Farnham Town Council is celebrating the news that it has achieved a new Green Flag Award for Hale Cemetery. The Council has also retained Green Flags for Badshot Lea and West Street Cemeteries for the second year running and Gostrey Meadow for the fourth consecutive year.

Holding onto the Green Flags is a particular achievement as it shows Farnham Town Council was able to demonstrate to the judges that continuous improvements have been made over the past year.

Councillor Mat Brown, Lead Member for Environment says: “We are so pleased to have received these awards as it is recognition that we are on track with implementing our ambitious improvement plans for each of the cemeteries. Over the past year we have created dead hedges for wildlife, expanded our wildflower areas, improved our planting schemes and placed new bins and benches in the cemeteries.

“I’m grateful to everybody who has volunteered to take part in working parties, litter picks and the many other volunteer activities that we organise throughout the year. Please contact bloom@farnham.gov.uk if you are interested in volunteering with us – there’s lots to be done!”

Over the next 12 months Farnham Town Council will continue to improve the open spaces it manages. In the near future, it will start a consultation on a new toilet block and playground in Gostrey Meadow. Throughout the rest of the year, it will enhance biodiversity in the cemeteries and raise standards in Green Lane Cemetery so it can be considered for a Green Flag in 2025.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, 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.