Gloucester & Sharpness Canal retains Green Flag status by Marketing | Gloucester News Centre - http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk/
Gloucester & Sharpness Canal has again been awarded prestigious Green Flag status by Keep Britain Tidy.
The nation’s canal charity has secured a further 53.5 miles of Green Flag waterways across England and Wales, with 592 miles now holding the international quality mark for parks and green spaces. The Green Flags further demonstrate the important role the 250-year-old canal network plays for local communities, bringing nature into the heart of the UK’s towns and cities.
The spread of Green Flags reflects both the increasing importance of the waterways as vibrant green spaces in the nation’s towns and cities and their longstanding value in providing popular, accessible beauty spots across the country.
Richard Parry, chief executive at Canal & River Trust, said: “These Green Flags showcase the breadth of what the waterways have to offer: free, accessible green space on the doorstep of millions. Our historic canals are places in our towns and cities where people can relax, get close to nature and feel the health benefits of spending time by water.
“Caring for a 2,000-mile canal network is a challenge, with our ageing waterways vulnerable to changing weather patterns, daily wear and tear, and perennial problems like litter and encroaching vegetation. This impressive number of Green Flags is a testament to everyone who works or volunteers with the Trust, including those in the community who play such a vital part in helping to look after their local canal.
“And now we’re facing another challenge, with a significant reduction in our government funding after 2027 recently announced. This will inevitably mean we will not be able to carry out all the work needed to keep the canals available and in working order, risking the benefit that so many communities enjoy from having access to nature on the doorstep. We’re calling on the public to join our campaign to Keep Canals Alive so we can secure the support they need to avert the decline that we saw during the last century.”
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk
