On Monday 22nd September, Councillor Roger Walters was joined by local District and Town councillors Jackie Pell, Michael Gage, David Hume and Shirley Diver, Julia Smith  Secretary of Halstead in Bloom and Head Gardener Peter Nice with his parks team to raise the Green flag and celebrate the gardens achieving this national standard.

The Green Flag award is a national standard for quality parks and green spaces.  In receiving this award, Halstead Public Gardens have been judged to be welcoming and well maintained with the support and involvement of the local community.

The Gardens have also been awarded Green Heritage Site accreditation in recognition of this local historic importance.   Over the years many individuals and local organisations such as Friends of Halstead Public Gardens, Halstead Town Council and the River Colne Countryside Project have given their time and support to the council teams.

These lovely Gardens were fully restored in 2001, exactly 100 years after the original opening, with the aid of a major grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  Key features dated from the earliest days include the pond, dancing green, bandstand, shelters and a drinking fountain, all set within substantial boundary planting with spectacular bedding, specimen trees and fine-cut lawns.  Later introductions include the garden of remembrance around a stone war memorial, swings and cycle racks.

Councillor Roger Walters, Cabinet member for the environment, said, “I am delighted that the years of hard work by Braintree District Council’s officer team, supported by local organisations and individuals have been recognised by this national Green Flag Award.  Joint working can benefit local communities in many ways, Halstead Public Gardens is a stunning example.  The gardens provide an beautiful oasis of calm, a wonderful setting for events and are, without doubt, a great asset to the town.”

Issued 26 September 2008