Park News

Queen Elizabeth Country Park is a National Favourite

Hampshire County Council’s Queen Elizabeth Country Park has been voted one of the country’s most cherished parks in the annual People’s Choice Award public poll.

All Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces were entered into the annual poll, which saw thousands of people voting for their favourite green space. At number eight in the UK’s top ten favourite parks is Queen Elizabeth Country Park, near Petersfield, receiving hundreds of votes from local residents and visitors.

Executive Member for Culture and Recreation, Councillor Keith Chapman, said: “This is the second year in a row that Queen Elizabeth Country Park has been voted into the top ten for a People’s Choice Award. This is a fantastic result for the park, its staff, volunteers and visitors, all of whom play their part in making this a special place.”

Queen Elizabeth Country Park is Hampshire’s largest park with 2,000 acres of woodland and downland set within the South Downs National Park.

Green Flag Award scheme manager, Paul Todd, said: "With more than 7,000 votes for the People’s Choice Award, it is fantastic to see how much people value their green spaces, recognising the richness they bring to their lives.”

The People’s Choice Award 2012 top ten are:

1. Victoria Park (London Borough of Tower Hamlets)
2. Warley Woods(Warley Woods Community Trust)
3. Whiteknights(University of Reading)
4. Alexandra Palace Park(Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust)
5. Millennium Country Park(Marston Vale Trust)
6. Valentines Park(Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure Trust)
7. Tipton Cemetery(Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council)
8. Queen Elizabeth Country Park(Hampshire County Council / Forestry Commission)
9. Sandwell Valley Country Park (Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council)
10. Myatt’s Fields Park(London Borough of Lambeth)

The Green Flag Awards are given to the best free-to-enter green spaces in the country. In 2012, 1,424 sites received the award.