Gostrey Meadow has retained its Green Flag Award for another year, signifying the park is a well managed green space that benefits people and the environment. Farnham Town Council, which manages Gostrey Meadow, says this year’s award is particularly important as it recognises improvements it has carried out in the last 12 months.

“The Green Flag is an international quality mark that reassures park visitors that this is a well managed green space that benefits people and the environment,” says Councillor Sally Dickson, Farnham’s Lead Member for Community Enhancement.

In the past year, the town council has carried out tree surveys, planted new shrubs and trees, redefined borders, improved pavements, installed new wooden benches and enhanced the war memorial area with a new carpet bed. 

Councillor Dickson explains: “Since the COVID lockdowns, Gostrey Meadow and our other green spaces have played a vital role in providing places to relax, exercise, meet friends safely and be near nature. Gostrey Meadow also brings people together through community events. At the same time, extreme weather such as high temperatures and heavy rain means new challenges for planting, wildlife, access and maintenance. Our outside workforce works really hard to keep Gostrey Meadow a welcoming, clean and tidy place for people to visit all year round and a great park.”

The Green Flag Award is run by the environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy. This year, over 2,000 parks have received the award, an indication of the importance of publicly accessible and welcoming green spaces that benefit community life, people’s health and wellbeing, and that provide habitats for flora and fauna.