Cheshire East green space programme wins national award for boosting wellbeing

18 November 2024 

A hard-working Green Spaces for Wellbeing team has scooped an award for their work to protect and enhance Queens Park, a well-used green space in Cheshire East.

The Green Spaces for Wellbeing team who work across Cheshire East won the best health initiative category in the annual Best of the Best Awards.

The awards celebrate the volunteers, park staff and groups behind the success of parks that managed to scoop a prestigious Green Flag Award earlier in the year.

The Green Spaces for Wellbeing project is a social prescribing programme managed by Ansa’s Green Spaces for Wellbeing team in partnership with Cheshire East Council, the NHS, Everybody Health and Leisure and the voluntary sector.

The project aims to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities and reduce inequalities following the NHS five steps to health and wellbeing, offering participants a funded 12-week programme of nature-based activities to suit a range of interests, ages and abilities. 

Councillor Jill Rhodes, chairperson of Cheshire East Council adults and health committee, said: “I'm absolutely thrilled that the Green Spaces for Wellbeing programme has been recognised with a 'Best of the Best' award from Keep Britain Tidy. This award is a fantastic testament to the hard work and dedication of Ansa Environmental Services, Cheshire East Council, the NHS, Everybody Health and Leisure, and all the volunteers involved.

“This innovative programme not only protects and enhances our local parks, but also plays a crucial role in improving the health and wellbeing of our residents. By offering nature-based activities as part of a social prescribing initiative, Green Spaces for Wellbeing provides a valuable resource for those struggling with mental or physical health challenges.

“This award win highlights the power of green spaces in fostering community cohesion and encouraging healthy lifestyles. It's inspiring to see our parks being used as a natural tool for healing, and I'm committed to supporting this fantastic programme as it continues to make a positive impact on the lives of people across Cheshire East."

The project team strives to instill symbiotic relationships between participants and nature whilst raising the profile and encouraging ongoing use of our parks and green spaces. The project team are passionate about utilising nature as a healing approach to health and wellbeing. The team love delivering these sessions inspiring participants and demonstrating a great example of community cohesion!

The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and accredits high quality and well managed green spaces and is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy in partnership with Keep Wales Tidy, Keep Scotland Beautiful and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

Nominations were received from across the UK and Green Spaces for Wellbeing programme was subsequently selected by the Best of The Best jury for their exceptional contribution.

Parks provide a wide array of benefits to people, pets and wildlife including space to exercise, socialise, and improve mental and physical wellbeing, and areas for nature to thrive.

A record breaking 2,227 parks and green spaces achieved the Green Flag Award - the international quality mark for parks and green spaces – this year, with successful submissions from local authorities and other land managers across the country for a range of sites, from world-famous city parks to small, local green spaces.

Green Flag Award manager Paul Todd MBE said: “The best of best awards is our way of honouring all the hard work done by the thousands of parks staff and volunteers up and down the country who work tirelessly to make their parks and green spaces fantastic places that everyone can enjoy.

“Our Best of the Best winners represent some of the UK’s hardest working individuals and groups working within our highest quality parks.

“We believe everyone, wherever they live, should be able to access and enjoy safe, high-quality green space, so achieving this recognition from the public is testament to Green Spaces for Wellbeing team’s tireless work.

 “We want to say a huge congratulations to them.”

For more details about the awards and the winners, visit the Green Flag Award website.