Tarvin Community Woodland Green Flag Award

Tarvin Community Woodland is named as one of the best in Britain

Tarvin Community Woodland in Tarvin, 6 miles east of Chester, is one of the very best in the UK – and that's official.

The Community Woodland is among a record-breaking 1,582 parks and green spaces that will today receive a prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space.
The award recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.

The one kilometre long, five and a half hectare woodland lies along the A51, Tarvin South-westerly by-pass. It was a piece of land left by the Highways Agency as a screened barrier between the new road and existing housing until the late Jim Grogan and village volunteers turned it into a Community Woodland.

Hundreds of native hardwood trees have been planted, it has been brought back under management and wildlife is being encouraged, not least by over forty squirrel-proof nest boxes. It is managed by a charitable trust.

At the end of 2014, ownership was transferred from Cheshire West and Chester Council to the Tarvin Community Woodland Trust that manages the woodland. It is a nationally recognised case-study of what can be achieved when competent and committed members of the community take over unused public assets.

Stuart Exell, Chairman, said: "We are truly delighted to receive our sixth Green Flag Award from Keep Britain Tidy. The award recognises the work of our volunteers, trustees and the commitment of the Tarvin community to continue to support and use the facility. The award also helps to motivate all involved to continue to develop and grow our green space on behalf of all the community here in Tarvin and its environs."

International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: "We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme. All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. This Award recognises and highlights that people in Tarvin are benefitting from a green space of the very highest quality."

The Green Flag Awards Scheme is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Department of Communities and Local Government, in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens and the National Housing Federation.

Contact the Woodland at info@tarvincommunitywoodland.org