PRESS RELEASE – 16th July 2024
The Chesterfield Canal Trust is celebrating after receiving a Green Flag Award for Hollingwood Hub. This is the eighth year in a row that it has received this accreditation – the international quality mark for parks and green spaces. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the Hub so that everyone can enjoy it.
Rod Auton, Trust Secretary, said “We are delighted to receive this award again. It is always good to know that an impartial body recognises the work put in to make the Hub such a tranquil place to visit.
“Obviously our many gardeners deserve much praise, but many other volunteers help to keep the area so pleasant. This includes those who work in the shop, who crew on our tripboat Madeline and who run the watersports hire business. The wonderful staff at Katey’s Coffee Shop provide welcome smiles and delicious cakes to complete your visit.”
Hollingwood Hub is not the only part of the Chesterfield Canal to receive the award. The whole of the eastern section of the canal, 31 miles between Kiveton Park and West Stockwith which is owned and managed by the Canal & River Trust, has also received a Green Flag.
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.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Hollingwood Hub on achieving a Green Flag Award.
“It is a vital green space for communities to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for canal users to improve their physical and mental health.
“We know that the volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, so 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.”
