Celebrating Chelmsford’s favourite parks for Love Parks Week

The nationwide Love Parks Week runs from 26 July to 4 August 2024. It brings with it an opportune time to celebrate seventeen of Chelmsford’s parks being recognised for another year running as some of the best parks and green spaces in the UK in the Green Flag Awards.

The award-winning parks are found across the district, and include the popular Hylands Park, Admirals Park, Compass Gardens & Saltcoats Park in South Woodham Ferrers, and many more. These and Chelmsford's other parks are home to many plant and wildlife species; from ancient woodland to vibrant lowland heath, there is plenty to be explored.

Love Parks Week will be celebrated in Chelmsford with a free-to-attend family event from 10am to 3pm on Friday 26 July at Oaklands Park (the front lawn of Chelmsford Museum).

The significance of Green Flag Awards

A Green Flag Award is the international standard for parks and green spaces. The scheme recognises and rewards well-maintained parks, setting the benchmark for the management of parks and outdoor spaces.

This year 2,227 sites across the UK were awarded Green Flag status. Chelmsford boasts some of the highest numbers of Green Flag Awards found in the East of England.

It’s testament to the hard work and dedication of the city council’s parks team that care for the green spaces for the enjoyment of residents, visitors, wildlife and alike. The team strives to ensure the parks are kept to very high standards and takes pride in its work, from the well-received colourful flower planting schemes to the regular maintenance of public facilities, as well as regular public engagement and parks volunteer activities.

Councillor Rose Moore, Cabinet Member for a Greener Chelmsford, is proud to see Chelmsford’s parks being recognised.

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“It’s so heartening that, once again, our parks and green spaces have been recognised as some of the best in the country. We know how much residents and visitors to the city treasure and enjoy the green spaces we have here in Chelmsford – and the dedication of our parks team and parks volunteers, as well as a growing number of local schools is evident in every flourishing border, vibrant meadow, and area of woodland habitat right across the district. Our goal is to balance public enjoyment with the restoration of nature; I am delighted that the prestigious Green Flag Award Scheme recognises the importance of that balance too.”

Councillor Rose Moore, Cabinet Member for a Greener Chelmsford

Alongside the 17 Green Flag Awards received for Chelmsford’s parks, Chelmsford City Council was also the recipient of three Green Heritage Site Accreditations. Admirals Park, Hylands Park and Oaklands Park were given the accreditation, supported by Historic England, for the management and promotion of its historic features.

A Green Flag Community Award was given to the Friends of Marconi Ponds for their stellar work on the Marconi Ponds Local Nature Reserve site.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said:

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“Green spaces are vital for communities in Chelmsford to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely, and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.

"We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.

"It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”

Paul Todd MBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager

Celebrate at the Love Parks event on 26 July

We’re kick-starting the school summer holidays with an event to celebrate Chelmsford’s green spaces. The Love Parks event is being held on the front lawn of Chelmsford Museum in the Oaklands Park grounds. It’s a fantastic opportunity for all ages to learn more about Chelmsford’s wonderful green spaces.

Families, friends, and all are invited to attend the free event from 10am to 3pm on Friday 26 July.

Activities to expect at the Love Parks event:

• Arts and crafts
• Play in the Park
• Parks vehicles
• Hylands Forest School
• Storytelling
• A willow weaving workshop
• Screen print artist
• Wildlife and bird societies
• Allotment advice and information stands

Chelmsford Museum will be open during the event and refreshments will be available from the Hive Cafe.

Please note: Parking won’t be available on site except for blue badge holders. The Museum has a list of alternative parking available on their website (under ‘By car’).

There is no booking required for the Love Parks event – just turn up!

Visit Chelmsford Museum to see 'Restless Brilliance: The Story of J.A. Baker and The Peregrine'

In honour of 'Restless Brilliance: The Story of J.A. Baker and The Peregrine' - a temporary exhibition at Chelmsford Museum - two willow sculptures of peregrines are being placed in Oaklands Park.

A competition has been held for residents to name the two sculptures. The winners were recently announced, and the willow sculptures will be making their debut at the Love Parks event. A willow-weaving workshop will be one of the activities available on the day to see how the peregrines were created.

The J.A. Baker exhibition is on display at Chelmsford Museum until November 2024. It highlights the local author and conservationist’s passion for Chelmsford's countryside, and explores the legacy of his bestselling book The Peregrine.

Explore Chelmsford’s parks this summer

There are things to see all year round in Chelmsford’s Green Flag parks and they’re a great place for families to have fun in the summer holidays. Look out for Harry the Otter’s QR code when walking the nature trail at Chelmer Valley Local Nature Reserve. Fantastic play areas can be found in lots of the city council’s green spaces.

Visit the Love Your Chelmsford website to see a list of all Chelmsford City Council’s green spaces, as well as the recreational facilities that can be found in each location.