Two city parks set to fly green flags once more

TWO Newcastle parks have won back their Green Flag status, a year after losing the prestigious award. Both Leazes Park and Walker Park have reclaimed the well-known quality mark for green spaces.

- DANIEL HOLLAND

There had been an outcry 12 months ago when the two locations failed to retain the award, amid concerns about antisocial behaviour and arson in Walker and a row over damage caused to the 150-year-old Leazes Park by using it to stage music festivals. Since then, parks management charity Urban Green Newcastle (UGN) has been put into liquidation and control of the city's parks has returned to Newcastle City Council.

Added to the Green Flag awards retained by Exhibition Park and Jesmond Dene, it means there are once again four parks in Newcastle that hold the status handed out by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy. Judges said that there had been "huge improvements" in order to "return Leazes Park to a very attractive, well-managed green space much enjoyed by a great number of visitors".

The Victorian park was not even entered for the 2024 awards, while locals had complained of the historic attraction being "damaged beyond repair" under UGN's rule.