Latest news with #GreenFlagAwards
Scottish Sun
10-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
UK's oldest ‘new town' home to award-winning free attraction and is just 20 minutes from London
Plus, another attraction in Hertfordshire that's been called "the "Little Provence" SPLASH AROUND UK's oldest 'new town' home to award-winning free attraction and is just 20 minutes from London Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE first wave of 'new towns' in the UK started back in the 1940s - and those who want to visit the oldest should head to Stevenage. The New Town was founded in 1946 to house Londoners after World War II and relief the over-crowding and shortages of homes in the city. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Stevenage is split into a New and Old Town Credit: Alamy 5 The newer town is home to a big shopping centre Credit: Alamy The goal set by the government was to provide housing, employment, and a healthier environment for families relocating from London. Stevenage remains split into two parts, the Old Town and New Town. The Old Town side of Stevenage has retained its historical charm with a small high street and Grade I listed buildings. The award-winning attraction, Fairlands Valley Park is in part of the New Town of Stevenage. Fairlands Valley Park is also award-winning having been recognised with several Green Flag Awards, celebrating its high standards as a green space. It won a Green Flag Award for 10 consecutive years between 2010 and 2020. It was also once voted as one of the UK's leading free visitor attractions. Inside the park is a completely free play park suitable for children with swings, climbing frames and tunnels. Fairlands Valley Park is also home to a splash park which will open on May 25, for the summer season. The splash park is completely free and there you'll find fountains, interactive water features as well as a food kiosk. The historic UK town with the largest Japanese cherry tree orchard in the world 5 Fairlands Valley Park has a splash park that's completely free Credit: ParksHerts 5 An inflatable course is set up on one of the four the lakes during the summer Credit: AquaParcs The park itself is set across 120 acres in the heart of Stevenage, and 11 acres of that is a sailing lake. The Sailing Centre within the park offers wet and non-water activities for adults and children - which do require a fee. On the lake, you can do canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, angling, and even powerboat courses. On land, the centre runs classes like orienteering, power kiting, grass sledging and there's also a new ropes course and climbing wall. In total though there are four lakes in the park. The others are the Millennium Lake which is used for boating, the Environment Lake is where you'll find wildlife from amphibians, squirrels and foxes. There's also the Balancing Pond which is at the Fairlands Farm End and only turns into a lake during heavy rainfall. Also during the summer, a huge Aqua Parcs inflatable assault course is set out on the main lake with multiple slides and obstacles. Throughout the year, inside the park is hosted events like markets, festivals, car shows and boot sales as well as Christmas light switch-on. Anyone wanting to head to Fairlands Valley Park from London will be pleased to know that a journey can take as little as 20 minutes from Kings Cross station. Plus, our travel team's favourite day trips in the South East from pubs with a view to quiet beaches. And a blooming great day out in the UK that doesn't have to cost the earth. Hertfordshire also has European-style attraction that's been dubbed "Little Provence" by visitors.
The Irish Sun
10-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
UK's oldest ‘new town' home to award-winning free attraction and is just 20 minutes from London
THE first wave of 'new towns' in the UK started back in the 1940s - and those who want to visit the oldest should head to Stevenage. The New Town was founded in 1946 to house Londoners after World War II and relief the over-crowding and shortages of homes in the city. Advertisement 5 Stevenage is split into a New and Old Town Credit: Alamy 5 The newer town is home to a big shopping centre Credit: Alamy The goal set by the government was to provide housing, employment, and a healthier environment for families relocating from London. The Old Town side of Stevenage has retained its historical charm with a small high street and Grade I listed buildings. The award-winning attraction, Fairlands Valley Park is in part of the New Town of Stevenage. Advertisement Read More on Free Attractions Fairlands Valley Park is also award-winning having been recognised with several Green Flag Awards, celebrating its high standards as a green space. It won a Green Flag Award for 10 consecutive years between 2010 and 2020. It was also once voted as one of the UK's leading free visitor attractions. Inside the park is a completely free play park suitable for children with swings, climbing frames and tunnels. Advertisement Most read in Family Exclusive Fairlands Valley Park is also home to a The splash park is completely free and there you'll find fountains, interactive water features as well as a food kiosk. The historic UK town with the largest Japanese cherry tree orchard in the world 5 Fairlands Valley Park has a splash park that's completely free Credit: ParksHerts 5 An inflatable course is set up on one of the four the lakes during the summer Credit: AquaParcs Advertisement The park itself is set across 120 acres in the heart of Stevenage, and 11 acres of that is a sailing lake. The On the lake, you can do On land, the centre runs classes like orienteering, power kiting, grass sledging and there's also a new ropes course and climbing wall. Advertisement In total though there are four lakes in the park. The others are the Millennium Lake which is used for boating, the Environment Lake is where you'll find wildlife from amphibians, squirrels and foxes. There's also the Balancing Pond which is at the Fairlands Farm End and only turns into a lake during heavy rainfall. Also during the summer, a huge Aqua Parcs inflatable assault course is set out on the main lake with multiple slides and obstacles. Advertisement Throughout the year, inside the park is hosted events like markets, festivals, car shows and boot sales as well as Christmas light switch-on. Anyone wanting to head to Fairlands Valley Park from London will be pleased to know that a journey can take as little as 20 minutes from Plus, our And a Advertisement 5 Fairlands Valley Park is set across 250 acres Credit: ParksHerts
The Sun
10-05-2025
- The Sun
UK's oldest ‘new town' home to award-winning free attraction and is just 20 minutes from London
THE first wave of 'new towns' in the UK started back in the 1940s - and those who want to visit the oldest should head to Stevenage. The New Town was founded in 1946 to house Londoners after World War II and relief the over-crowding and shortages of homes in the city. 5 5 The goal set by the government was to provide housing, employment, and a healthier environment for families relocating from London. Stevenage remains split into two parts, the Old Town and New Town. The Old Town side of Stevenage has retained its historical charm with a small high street and Grade I listed buildings. The award-winning attraction, Fairlands Valley Park is in part of the New Town of Stevenage. Fairlands Valley Park is also award-winning having been recognised with several Green Flag Awards, celebrating its high standards as a green space. It won a Green Flag Award for 10 consecutive years between 2010 and 2020. It was also once voted as one of the UK's leading free visitor attractions. Inside the park is a completely free play park suitable for children with swings, climbing frames and tunnels. Fairlands Valley Park is also home to a splash park which will open on May 25, for the summer season. The splash park is completely free and there you'll find fountains, interactive water features as well as a food kiosk. The historic UK town with the largest Japanese cherry tree orchard in the world 5 5 The park itself is set across 120 acres in the heart of Stevenage, and 11 acres of that is a sailing lake. The Sailing Centre within the park offers wet and non-water activities for adults and children - which do require a fee. On the lake, you can do canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, angling, and even powerboat courses. On land, the centre runs classes like orienteering, power kiting, grass sledging and there's also a new ropes course and climbing wall. In total though there are four lakes in the park. The others are the Millennium Lake which is used for boating, the Environment Lake is where you'll find wildlife from amphibians, squirrels and foxes. There's also the Balancing Pond which is at the Fairlands Farm End and only turns into a lake during heavy rainfall. Also during the summer, a huge Aqua Parcs inflatable assault course is set out on the main lake with multiple slides and obstacles. Throughout the year, inside the park is hosted events like markets, festivals, car shows and boot sales as well as Christmas light switch-on. Anyone wanting to head to Fairlands Valley Park from London will be pleased to know that a journey can take as little as 20 minutes from Kings Cross station. Plus, our . And a . .
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The donation which will help the transformation of this beautiful green space
A cheque for more than £800 was donated to the Friends of Harwood and Longsight Park to help the organisation continue its work with improving green spaces in the area for the enjoyment of everyone. The money was raised at the popular Artisan Market held regularly at Harwood Methodist Church. The next Artisan Market will be held on Saturday, May 10, from 10am to 2pm. The cafe will be open at the church, which is on Longsight Lane. READ MORE: Longsight Park and Rivington celebrate Green Flag Awards The Friends of Longsight Park are transforming the beauty spot and wildlife haven blighted by vandalism The Friends of Harwood and Longsight Park formed to transform Longsight Park, which had been neglected for more than 10 years turning it into officially one of the country's best thanks to the incredible work of volunteers to reveal its outstanding natural beauty to visitors while maintaining it as a wildlife haven. Longsight Park in Harwood has the coveted Community Green Flag Award, the international quality mark for parks and green spaces. The transformation of the park has been led by the Friends of Harwood and Longsight Park and has included new pathways, benches and much more. Now people can enjoy the natural wonder of the park which is home to deer, foxes, otters, brown trout, kingfishers and even badgers and unusual and striking trees can be found in the arboretum, with part of the park classed as a site of scientific interest. Dr Wilcock and a band of volunteers formed The Friends of Longsight Park in 2014, after Alderman and retired councillor Walter Hall suggested the idea a few years previously. Now they are busy digging — sometimes into their own pockets — campaigning, building, cleaning and raising money to ensure the park becomes a major attraction for people — and wildlife.
