Martineau Gardens Wins Best Green Space Award
Martineau Gardens has been recognised as one of the best community run green spaces in the country by winning a prestigious Green Flag Community Award, for the fourth year in a row. To celebrate the good news, visitors and volunteers dropped in for a cuppa on Tuesday 30 July at 12.30noon, to watch the official flag unfurled beside the vegetable beds. We were joined by photographers from the Post & Mail and EHN News – to see the set of photos – click here for a link through to our flickr page.
Martineau Gardens is among a record-breaking 1,447 parks and green spaces that are receiving the award. The Green Flag Community Awards (part of the Green Flag Award scheme) is a national award handed out by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy. Martineau Gardens stood out after impressing the inspector. The Gardens were judged against eight criteria: a welcoming place; healthy safe and secure; clean and well maintained; sustainability; conservation and heritage; community involvement; marketing and management.
The Community Garden though only two miles from Birmingham city centre is a green oasis that is teeming with wildlife. There’s plenty for visitors to explore including woodland, glass houses, a formal garden, an orchard, vegetable plots, a wildflower meadow, a pond, a wildlife area with SLINC status and a ‘Shipwreck’ children’s play area. The Gardens also run an annual events programme and sell plants, produce and jams.
Caroline Hutton, Director, Martineau Gardens said:
“Martineau Gardens are a community-run garden that’s open for free to the public. This award is a tribute to the dedication of our volunteers who work hard to keep the gardens a beautiful and tranquil spot for Birmingham people to come and relax in.”
Paul Todd, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, said:
“Quality green spaces are absolutely essential to happy, healthy communities. They are fundamental to our quality of life.”
Martineau Gardens are open Monday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm and are free entry. The Gardens are at 27 Priory Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7UG. Located five minutes from the MAC and opposite the Priory Hospital. Information at www.martineau-gardens.org.uk or by calling 0121 440 7430.
