A COMMUNITY gardening group is raising its prestigious Green Flag Award for the third year in a row.

Beck Bottom Community Garden in Hensingham has achieved the accreditation, which is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

The award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space so that visitors and residents alike can enjoy it.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag award scheme manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Beck Bottom Community Garden Group on achieving a Green Flag Award.

“Beck Bottom Community Garden is a vital green space for communities in Hensingham to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.

“We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, 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.”

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.

Beck Bottom Community Garden is run by a small group of local volunteers from all age ranges and backgrounds that share a passion for gardening and take great pride in the upkeep of the area.

Their aim is to maintain and enhance the area known as Beck Bottom, Hensingham for the local community while promoting horticultural education, physical and mental health through gardening in partnership with the Cumberland Council Parks Open Spaces Department.

The group meets up every Saturday morning at 10am (weather permitting) to carry out gardening duties and general upkeep of the area. Everyone is welcome - volunteers do not have to have any horticultural experience.