Poulton park set to benefit from share of £175,000 to bring thriving green spaces to North West

The Jean Stansfield Memorial Park, in Poulton town centre, will receive a share of a £175,000 cash boost from the government’s new Pocket Parks programme, which aims to transform urban spaces into green spaces for the whole community to enjoy.

It is one of eight parks across the North West to benefit from the scheme, which is worth a total £1.35m.

Steph Hasty, of the Friends of Jean Stansfield Memorial Park, said: “We completed phase one and two of our new children’s area last year. This year, we have been in talks with the group about putting a zip wire in as another piece of equipment. These are very early talks, but that is what we’d like for our park.

“We’re feeling optimistic. We obviously have to fund-raise hard and it’s good that this parks programme has identified us.

“There aren’t many parks in the country that are right in the town centre, so we are very honours to have this place where people can walk and sit with their children in a green space whenever they come shopping.”

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, chief executive of environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, which runs the Green Flag Award scheme for parks and green spaces, said: “This is great news for people and for the environment, creating more parks and green spaces at the heart of communities.

“We look forward to seeing many of these sites achieve the Green Flag Award and Green Flag Community Award in the years to come.”

Communities Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:

“Pocket parks are used for everything from exercise and gardening to socialising and relaxing. They have huge benefits for our mental and physical health and allow us to take a moment out of our busy lives to connect with nature.

“We are determined to protect our nation’s parks for future generations to enjoy, and on World Wildlife Day, I am delighted to announce the recipients of the extra £1.35 million for the Pocket Parks fund – adding 68 new parks, which will take the total we’ve backed to 352.

“Creating more pocket parks is part of this Government’s ambition to ensure that communities have a real sense of identity and place, and that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy green spaces in their local area.”