Derby Parks get behind Perfect Parks campaign

Child holds up brightly coloured painting with flowers, a rainbow, swings, a tree and a fox

Thu 16 Apr 2020

The team from Derby Parks are getting behind a social media campaign to celebrate the best of our public parks and open spaces without leaving our homes.

#PerfectParks has been started by the Green Flag Award, which honours the best kept parks in the UK every year. It asks people of all ages, and especially families with children, to create pictures showing the features that would make up their ideal park, and post them online.

The idea is to turn the Green Flag's social media pages into a blaze of colour celebrating all our parks have to offer, at a time when the necessary restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic mean we can't use them in the usual way we would at this time of year, as amenities and play areas remain closed and the public are urged to stay home.

David Winslow, a Community Parks Officer for Derby Parks, is also a voluntary Green Flag judge and has been asked to help co-ordinate the scheme. He said: "At a time when people are encouraged to keep to a local space within walking distance of their home for their daily exercise, this creative campaign is a way to remember the important role our parks and green spaces play in helping us unwind and relax."

His seven-year-old daughter Florence has already been inspired and painted her own #PerfectPark, complete with flowers, a rainbow and wildlife.

Councillor Robin Wood, Derby City Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said: "This is a great way to inspire the family and remember why our parks and open spaces mean so much to us. We have been encouraged that most people in Derby have been following the Government guidelines and staying within their local area for daily exercise. There have been some instances where we have had to close car parks so as not to compromise safe social distancing, and we will continue to take action if and where necessary. Following the guidelines on restrictions responsibly means every day is a day closer to being able to fully enjoy our parks and open spaces again."

The Green Flag Award is a non-profit international accreditation scheme that recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces. Originating in England in 1996, today the Green Flag Award proudly flies above more than 2,000 places in over 15 countries around the world.

Last year in Derby, Green Flags were awarded to Markeaton, Chaddesden, Darley, Sunnydale and Alvaston Parks, and Derby Arboretum. Green Flag Community Awards were also presented to Ashbourne Road and District Allotments, Chaddesden Wood, Chellaston Brickworks, Darley and Nutwood Local Nature Reserve, Darley Park Hydrangea Garden, Little Chester Allotments, Markeaton Walled Garden and Sinfin Moor Park.

To find out more about #PerfectParks go to greenflagaward.org.uk. To take part, share your artwork on social media with the tag #PerfectParks.