Latest news with #greenspaces
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Birmingham named UK's first official Nature City
Birmingham has been recognised as the UK's first official Nature City by a group including the National Trust and Natural England. The city has been awarded the accolade as part of a programme working to improve access to nature in urban award recognised the role played by the city council and others in providing communities in Birmingham with better access to nature and green city is joined by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, which were collectively named the UK's first official Nature Towns. The Nature Towns and Cities programme - a parnership of Natural England, National Trust and the National Lottery Heritage Fund - aims to help at least 100 locations across the UK to become greener places for people to live and latest award follows a £9m grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund just over a week ago to restore Victorian glasshouses at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Birmingham City Council has developed a 25-year City of Nature plan - a long-term strategy to reconnect people with nature, as well as improve biodiversity, and tackle climate and health Majid Mahmood said it had has laid out a "robust" framework for transforming how nature is valued in Birmingham."We're really leading the way in creating and recovering urban nature and are one of the greenest cities in Europe," he said."We work with community groups such as Birmingham Tree People to plant trees in inner city areas such as Alum Rock, and in partnership with Open Door Community Foundation and Friends of Seven Streets Park - Balsall Heath to develop pocket parks in their neighbourhoods. "These are small but impactful green spaces that bring nature to people's doorsteps while supporting wellbeing, biodiversity, food growing and community pride." As well as the Nature City and Nature Town titles awarded, 40 towns and cities across the UK have received funding to help them take steps to improving access to the West Midlands, Walsall and Coventry have received almost £1m each from the National Lottery Heritage funding in Coventry will will be used to allow 3,000 young people learn new green skills through citizen science projects, new education resources and school allotments. Hilary McGrady, Director General at the National Trust, said the wider programme would "enrich places with green space and contribute to the healthy mind, body and future that people need". Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Full list of Derbyshire's best parks which are well worth a visit
Dozens of parks and green spaces across Derbyshire have reached the high standards required to receive the prestigious Green Flag Award in 2025. A record-breaking 2,250 sites across the country have received the award this year, which is the international quality classification for green spaces and sees local authorities and land managers applying across the country - and more than 40 Derbyshire sites have made the cut. Parks in South Derbyshire, Amber Valley, High Peak and Derby have all had inclusions in the list and are proudly preparing to raise their flags in the coming days. Parks are a vitally important part of this country's green infrastructure, providing opportunities to improve physical and mental health even in the most built-up urban environments. Any green space that is freely accessible to the public is eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award. Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag Award status. READ MORE: The eccentricity of the Harpur-Crewe aristocrats passed down the generations READ MORE: Perfect circular walk near Derby with lots of animals and an ancient Georgian ironworks Whether it's a quiet evening walk through one of Derby's six parks on the list or a sit-down and picnic while observing Belper's River Gardens, Derbyshire's green spaces definitely have plenty to offer throughout the summer. You can take a look at all 48 sites across the county in our list of Green Flag Award winners below: Belper Cemetery - Amber Valley Borough Council Belper Parks - Amber Valley Borough Council Belper River - Amber Valley Borough Council Crays Hill Recreation Ground - Amber Valley Borough Council Crossley Park - Amber Valley Borough Council Heanor Memorial Park - Amber Valley Borough Council Pennytown Ponds Local Nature Reserve - Amber Valley Borough Council Riddings Park - Amber Valley Borough Council Erewash Canal - Canal & River Trust Chesterfield Crematorium - Chesterfield Borough Council Eastwood Park - Chesterfield Borough Council Holmebrook Valley Park - Chesterfield Borough Council King George V Playing Field - Chesterfield Borough Council Monkey Pocket Park - Chesterfield Borough Council Poolsbrook Country Park - Chesterfield Borough Council Queen's Park - Chesterfield Borough Council Stand Road Park - Chesterfield Borough Council Alvaston Park - Derby City Council Chaddesden Park - Derby City Council Darley Park - Derby City Council Derby Arboretum - Derby City Council Markeaton Park - Derby City Council Sunnydale Park LNR - Derby City Council Ashbourne Park - Derbyshire Dales District Council Bath Gardens - Derbyshire Dales District Council Hall Leys Park - Derbyshire Dales District Council Victoria Park (Ilkeston) - Erewash Borough Council Memorial Park Whaley Bridge - High Peak Borough Council Cadley Park - South Derbyshire District Council Church Gresley Cemetery - South Derbyshire District Council Eureka Park - South Derbyshire District Council Maurice Lea Memorial Park - South Derbyshire District Council Newhall Park - South Derbyshire District Council Swadlincote Woodlands - South Derbyshire District Council Dysart Park - South Kesteven District Council Hollingwood Hub The Chesterfield Canal Trust Green Heritage Site Accreditation Derby Arboretum - Derby City Council Victoria Park (Ilkeston) - Erewash Borough Council Green Flag Community Award Ashbourne Road District Allotments - Ashbourne Road District Allotments Association Darley and Nutwood Local Nature Reserve - Darley and Nutwood Nature Reserve Management Group Chaddesden Wood - Derby City Council Chellaston Brickworks Local Nature Reserve - Friends of Chellaston Brickworks Local Nature Reserve Long Eaton Community Garden - Friends of Long Eaton Community Garden Markeaton Park Walled Garden - Friends of Markeaton Park Sinfin Moor Park & Local Nature Reserve - Friends of Sinfin Moor Park & Local Nature Reserve Hathersage Allotments - Hathersage Allotments Group Little Chester Allotments - Little Chester Allotment Association New Mills Community Orchard - New Mills Community Orchard
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Sunderland handed Lottery grant to develop nature access
A lottery grant of £490,000 will help a city improve access to green spaces, the local council is among 40 areas nationally awarded money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Nature Towns and Cities include a focus on boosting transport and linking community green spaces including the city's coastline and Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, said residents would be consulted in the coming weeks and months to help develop schemes. Nature Towns and Cities is a partnership between Natural England, the National Trust and the National Lottery Heritage council will also work with Durham Wildlife Trust and organisations from the voluntary sector as it looks to allocate the are set to include new conservation and horticulture courses, ecological surveys for local Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), such Tunstall Hills and Claxheugh Rocks, and community grants. Welcoming the funding, Mordey said the aims of the forthcoming projects were "all about improving our residents' access to nature and helping them to enjoy some of the fantastic greenspaces, coastline and riverbanks on their doorstep".He added: "As we all know, getting out into the fresh air can really help us to clear our minds and take time for ourselves."So we'll be looking to work with residents and partners over the coming weeks and months to help us develop the plans further and make sure that we're making the most of this grant funding." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
CBC
6 days ago
- General
- CBC
Yellowknife has a solution to its housing shortage — but it comes with a sacrifice
It's no secret the City of Yellowknife needs more housing. To build it, the city says it'll have to sacrifice some green spaces. The CBC's Sarah St-Pierre explains why.
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Waverley parks and open spaces honoured in Green Flag Awards
A total of 11 council-managed parks and green spaces in an area of Surrey have been honoured by an international award scheme. The sites in the Waverley area have received Green Flag Awards, marking them as some of the finest in the Park has, once again, also received Green Heritage Site Accreditation, recognizing its "exceptional management of historic features".Steve Williams, Waverley Borough Council's portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, said the awards were "a testament to our dedicated parks and countryside team". Parks on the award list in addition to Farnham are Broadwater Park and Phillips Memorial Park in spaces honoured were Badshot Lea Pond and Orchard, Bealeswood Common in Dockenfield, Blackheath Common near Albury, Frensham Common, Lammas Lands in Godalming, Mare Hill near Witley, Summerlands Estate in Cranleigh and Weybourne Nature Green Flag Award Scheme is managed by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local sets the benchmark for the management of green spaces across the UK and Williams said: "I do hope our residents get out and enjoy some of our beautiful greenspaces this summer."
