Cast your vote for Pittville Park today

Cheltenham’s very own Pittville Park has been nominated for the Fields in Trust UK’s Best Park, as voted by YOU! Award and now needs public votes to win. Over the last few weeks 214 nominations have been received by Fields in Trust for parks and green spaces that are a much loved part of their local communities. Now it is time to choose the winners; cast your vote for Pittville Park at www.fieldsintrust.org/bestpark

As described on the Fields in Trust website, Pittville Park is ‘even better this year as a huge new children's play area has been installed.’  The play area – much bigger than before – opened ahead of the summer holidays and features two zip wires, a castle tower with climbing equipment, tunnel slides, a sand and water area, as well as a climbing net, tunnels, swings, musical play equipment, trampolines and toddler play equipment. There is a brand new refreshment kiosk for a much-needed snack and drink after all the play.

Popular with families, dog walkers, historians and sport lovers, Pittville Park is an attraction which has something for everyone.

Councillor Chris Coleman, cabinet member for clean and green environment said: ‘’We are immensely proud of Pittville Park and I hope that people will vote for it to win this award. Not only does it have a hugely popular, accessible new play area, it is also the first site in the county to win a prestigious Green Heritage Site accreditation thanks to its high standards and historic importance. We have a great team of officers and volunteers who work hard to look after the park and this Best Park award would truly recognise their dedication.’’

Voting closes at 5pm on Wednesday 9 November.

Across the UK nominations include large nature reserves and small community gardens, sports fields and playgrounds, each one a green space valued by the local community. Fields in Trust is a national charity that operates throughout the UK to safeguard recreational spaces and campaign for better statutory protection for all kinds of outdoor sites. Pittville Park is one of 214 nominated parks across the UK. The park with the most votes in each of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be shortlisted and nominators will be invited to attend the prestigious Fields in Trust Awards at Lord’s Cricket Ground in November where the UK's Best Park, as voted by YOU! 2016 will be named.

Fields in Trust chief executive, Helen Griffiths said: "We want to celebrate the parks and green spaces which are so vital to the communities that use them. A good park is reflective of the community it serves, but, as they are not a statutory service for local councils to provide, these much loved places are increasingly under threat of being lost to development.

"Recognising the UK's Best Park is a way of revaluing our green spaces; not viewing them just as a drain on resources for maintenance and upkeep - but seeing what benefits they bring; access to good quality recreational space can contribute to the physical and mental health of their local population and provide places for people to get together for community events."

Fields in Trust legally safeguards over 2,600 parks, playing fields, playgrounds, recreation grounds and other open spaces throughout the UK – a total of 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres). 

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For press enquiries contact: Katie Sandey, communications and web team leader, on 01242 775037 or email [email protected] 

Notes

Pittville Park

Opened in 1825, Pittville Park is the largest ornamental park in Cheltenham and features the magnificent Pump Room and lakes. This park is given a grade II listing under the English Heritage register of historic parks and gardens, with the pump room as a grade I historic building.

Pittville Park is divided in two by Evesham Road. Most people are familiar with the eastern side of the park, which is overlooked by Pittville Pump Room, and home to the newly refurbished children's play area and the aviaries. However, to the west of Evesham Road lies the much larger western park with its more natural layout and small areas of woodland. Here you will find the larger 'lower lake' where you can fish during the fishing season, and there is a smaller children's play area along with tennis courts, a pitch and putt golf course and a skate park.

Friends of Pittville

Friends of Pittville work voluntarily to help care for Pittville Park and the surrounding area and were instrumental in the new play area’s fundraising campaign.

About Fields in Trust

Fields in Trust is a national charity that operates throughout the UK to safeguard recreational spaces and campaign for better statutory protection for all kinds of outdoor sites.

Founded in 1925 as the National Playing Fields Association by King George V, the mission is the same now and as it was then: to ensure that everyone – young or old, able-bodied or disabled and wherever they live – should have access to free, local outdoor space for sport, play and recreation. These spaces are vital to building happy and healthy communities and sadly continue to be threatened by all kinds of development.  www.fieldsintrust.org

For media enquiries about Fields in Trust please contact Richard McKeever
e: [email protected]  t: 020 7427 2117