Four Barnsley parks and green spaces awarded prestigious Green Flag awards

We’re incredibly proud to announce that four of Barnsley’s beautiful green spaces have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award.

Elsecar Park and Local Nature Reserve, Cannon Hall Parklands, Locke Park, and Carlton Marsh Nature Reserve have each been recognised for their commitment to providing beautiful, well-maintained, and accessible green spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.

This marks Locke Park’s first Green Flag accreditation while Elsecar Park is recognised for the 18th time. The Green Flag Award, an international quality mark for parks and green spaces is given out to demonstrate the highest standards in areas such as cleanliness, safety, and community involvement. The award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the volunteers and teams who make them a great space for everyone to enjoy.

• Elsecar Park and Local Nature Reserve is celebrated for its well-maintained landscape, vibrant community events, and the rich history of the Elsecar Heritage Centre. The park offers a peaceful retreat with its picturesque lake, well-kept gardens, and recreational facilities that cater to all ages. This will be Elsecar Park's 18th Green Flag Award.
• Cannon Hall Parklands is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year and has received national recognition for being one of the most visited free attractions in England.  The historic landscapes welcome people from across the region and offers free family trails, a fairyland, walled gardens and more.
• Locke Park is home to 47 acres, only a mile from Barnsley's town centre, with gardens, trees and open grass, historic tower and bandstand, bowling club and café. The park is known for its history,  named after the renowned railway engineer Joseph Locke (1805-60), who was brought up in Barnsley. The park is celebrating winning it’s first Green Flag.
• Carlton Marsh and Nature Reserve stands out for its commitment to conservation and biodiversity. The nature reserve offers a sanctuary for wildlife and a peaceful escape for nature lovers. Efforts to preserve and enhance the natural environment have made it a model for sustainable park management.

Cllr James Higginbottom, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment and Highways said: "I’m extremely proud that Barnsley has once again achieved four Green Flag Awards.

“These awards are a testament to the hard work of our Parks Team, volunteers, Countryside Rangers, Museums and Neighbourhoods Teams who put in so much time and effort to protect these beautiful green spaces for everyone who uses them.

“The Green Flag Awards underline our commitment to making Barnsley the cleaner, greener, and more sustainable place we can all be proud to call home.”

Cllr Robin Franklin, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture said: "Winning four Green Flag Awards for another year is a fantastic achievement for Barnsley.

“They highlight the outstanding quality of our parks and green spaces and recognises the hard work of our staff and volunteers who dedicate their time to ensuring they are always looking their best.

"Our parks and green spaces continue to play an important role in the well-being of our residents. They provide places to relax, exercise, socialise and connect with nature. We are incredibly proud of this recognition and will continue to invest in and enhance our treasured local assets."

Find out more information about our parks and green spaces across the borough at www.barnsley.gov.uk/parks. For more information about Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens visit www.barnsley-museums.com