Sharphill Wood receives its first Green Flag Award!
Last updated: 26/7/2023
Sharphill Wood near Edwalton has been awarded its first coveted Green Flag Award and is now officially recognised as one of the UK’s best green spaces.
The woodland has been named among 2,216 UK other places that have received the award, which sets the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the UK and around the world.
The site became a nature reserve in 2010 and is managed in partnership with Rushcliffe Borough Council, The Friends of Sharphill Wood and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust (NWT).
The woodland is home to an array of local biodiversity and provides a valuable habitat for invertebrates, small mammals and birds.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transformation, Leisure and Wellbeing Cllr Jonathan Wheeler joined members of the Friends group, NWT and Council representatives to raise the flag earlier this week.
Cllr Wheeler said: “I’m really pleased for all of our partners that Sharphill Woods has now received this fantastic milestone with its first Green Flag Award!
“It’s a beautiful place where walkers can enjoy wide views across Rushcliffe and further afield and explore the footpaths and enjoy nature in the woodland area.
“Thank you to Friends of Sharphill Wood volunteer group, NWT and our staff for their excellent work maintaining this historic woodland.
“It has taken years of hard work to reach this point and to keep the site a scenic and peaceful place to visit with its thriving nature reserve. We will continue to work with all parties to enhance and increase biodiversity and conserve the site wherever we can.”
Friends of Sharphill Wood Secretary Bill Logan added: “We are very pleased to have this award in recognition of our Local Nature Reserve, the largest urban wood in the area, which the Friends have helped maintain for the benefit of the wildlife and the public since 2008.
“We hope this award will encourage others to join us at our regular work parties. If you would like to volunteer and join the Friends of Sharphill Wood group, email sharphillwood@yahoo.co.uk.”
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Senior Nature Recovery Officer (South) Ben Driver added: “We have been advising on the site management and supporting the Friends group since their formation over 15 years ago.
“Sharphill Wood is a fantastic and well-loved nature reserve, one of the key Local Nature Reserves in the Borough.
“It is truly fantastic to have everyone’s hard work recognised through the Green Flag award.”
The Green Flag Award is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, 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.