Residents encouraged to enjoy Reading’s parks as Caversham Court Gardens wins Green Flag award

Caversham Court Gardens has been confirmed amongst the best parks and open spaces in the country by being awarded a prestigious Green Flag award and Green Heritage Accreditation for 2023.

The Green Flag award recognises high-quality maintenance and excellent wildlife and climate-friendly practices, with winners having to demonstrate that standards are being maintained and continuous improvements are being achieved.

The Green Heritage Accreditation is for parks that have conserved their historical features to a high standard and maintained their historic character and appearance. Green Heritage Accreditation is made to sites that have particular local or national historic interest, and only 17 were awarded in the South East this year.

In the middle of national Love Parks Week (28 July – 6 August), Reading Borough Council is encouraging residents to get out and explore the award-winning Caversham Court Gardens and the borough’s 50+ other parks and open spaces, which it continues to invest millions of pounds each year on preserving and improving.

Karen Rowland, Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said: 

“I am thrilled that Caversham Court Gardens has again been recognised for its excellence. It is testimony to the work of our Parks team who keep it, and all of Reading’s parks, in such good condition.

We are very fortunate that despite being a dense urban area we have over 50 wonderful parks and open spaces for residents to enjoy, and with this week being Love Parks Week we’re encouraging you all to get out and explore some of the great greenery and places around the borough that you can enjoy”.

At Easter the Council opened Prospect Park’s new £530,000 playground, boasting facilities that cater for children of all ages and abilities, complementing the new Ranger Station there which provides mini golf, a climbing wall and Sky Tykes low ropes activity centre.

Residents are also being asked to play their part in keeping Reading’s parks and open spaces in award-winning shape, by using the waste bins provided or taking their rubbish home with them. Those keen to play a bigger role in keeping Reading clean and tidy can do so by taking part in the popular Reading Adopt Your Street (RAYS) programme. This enables individuals, community groups or groups of friends, companies or organisations to select a street, open space, footpath, park or shopping area to keep tidy through regular clean-ups. The Council supports volunteers by providing them with equipment such as litter pickers, gloves, hi-vis jackets and recycled bags. You can find out more about how to join RAYS here: https://www.reading.gov.uk/about-reading/improving-your-community/reading-adopt-your-street-rays/

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.