Penrhos Coastal Park crowned UK’s favourite park

The winners of a nationwide search to find the UK’s Favourite Parks have officially been announced. Led by green space charity, Fields in Trust, the competition saw 364 parks nominated by those who use and love them. Following a summer-long campaign that spotlighted the importance of having accessible green spaces in our communities, the charity announced that Penrhos Coastal Park in Holyhead achieved the most public votes and is officially the ‘UK’s Favourite Park 2022.’

 

In total, over 30,000 people cast their vote for their favourite park and Penrhos Coastal Park in Holyhead, Wales has emerged as the overall winner for the UK. In addition to these, national winners have also been named across the UK, including, Aberdeen’s Seaton Park in Scotland, and Craigavon City Park in Northern Ireland. Stanley Park has been named England’s Favourite Park 2022, attaining prestigious ‘National Treasure’ status having now been named as the public’s favourite park in England three times.

Fields in Trust has also published a list of ‘Local Favourites’ – parks which placed in the top 20% of the public vote – demonstrating the love their local communities have for them.

 

Attracting close to 100,000 visitors each year, Penrhos Coastal Park is near Holyhead on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales. The 200-acre park has everything from beaches to woodland walks and is extremely popular with both locals and tourists alike. With a rich history dating back to 1553, the green space is also home to several features of historical interest, including original Tudor era buildings.

 

Commenting on the announcement of Penrhos Coastal Park as the ‘UK’s Favourite Park 2022’, Chief Executive of Fields in Trust, Helen Griffiths, shared:

 

“We’re incredibly excited to announce that Penrhos Coastal Park in Holyhead has been voted as the UK’s Favourite Park 2022 by those who use and love it. It is clear that this park is a very special place to a lot of people, and we are thrilled to officially crown it the UK’s favourite. We’ve had a fantastic response to the competition from all across the UK and I’d like to thank everyone who nominated and voted for parks over the past few weeks.”

Securing more nominations than ever before, the campaign has illustrated how appreciation of our local parks has grown since the pandemic. As concerns mount over the climate crisis, green spaces have been proven to improve air quality and significantly limit the impact of heatwaves, by lowering urban temperatures.

With Fields in Trust’s annual Green Space Index, published earlier this year, revealing that 2.8 million people are not living within a ten-minute walk of a local park and only 6% of green space provision in Britain is legally protected, the campaign has highlighted the financial and developmental threats to green spaces.

“The UK is home to such a diverse range of green spaces, and we hope that this award has encouraged people to truly appreciate their local parks. Our work to legally protect green spaces for good means we’re well aware of the threats they face and how important it is value and celebrate them,” concluded Helen.

To find out more about the ‘UK’s Favourite Parks’ award and the work that national charity Fields in Trust conducts, visit: www.fieldsintrust.org/favourite-parks

 

Additional comments from Friends’ groups at each Home Nation winner:  

 

UK WINNER & WALES’ FAVOURITE – Penrhos Coastal Park, Holyhead, Anglesey

• Hilary Paterson-Jones of the Save Penrhos Campaign said: “We are absolutely elated for the Community here in Holyhead and far and wide who voted. Many visitors, once they find it, return to the peaceful haven they have fallen in love with. Penrhos has always been spoken about as ‘Our Park’ as local volunteers dug out the three ponds and pathways leading to breath-taking walks within the woodland. Penrhos has been a lifesaver through the Covid pandemic, a place to feel at one with nature, to clear one’s mind and breathe in and feel a connection to our green spaces with no social alienation.

  My love for Penrhos was instilled in me as a young child, my first memories are walking hand in hand with my mother in Penrhos, I still walk there every day, some 66 years later. I know it’s a special place for many, as the Ashes of loved ones are scattered in their chosen resting place. Penrhos is and always will be cherished by many.”

SCOTLAND FAVOURITE – Seaton Park, Aberdeen,

• Sheila Gordon, Chair of The Friends of Seaton Park, said” I am absolutely delighted that Seaton Park has won the public vote to become Scotland’s Favourite Park.  It is great to see that others think as I do and count it as their favourite park.

  The Friends of Seaton Park was originally formed ten years ago when there was a threat of closure. Thankfully, closure did not happen so now we are dedicated to the support and enhancement of the park– we get so much out of the park that we like to put a little bit back in!  We work alongside the gardeners and other staff of the Environment Department at Aberdeen City Council with tasks such as gardening, regular litter picks and fund raising to help make our local park a welcoming place for all who visit, so we are thrilled that the park has been recognised for this award. “

 

ENGLAND FAVOURITE – Stanley Park, Blackpool

• Nigel Patterson, Chairman Friends of Stanley Park and Salisbury Woodland, said: “Stanley Park is a national treasure.!!!! this award is testimony to the work our local council and volunteers do in making it such an attractive and interesting Park to visit. We would like to thank all our visitors for their continuing support in voting and showing their appreciation of our magnificent park. We are very honoured to achieve this status”

NORTHERN IRELAND FAVOURITE – Craigavon City Park

• Laura McAleenan , Craigavon City Park Committee, said: ”Our park is such a beautiful space with something for everyone. It provides a haven for wildlife, relaxation for residents and a space for us to enjoy our sports. Winning this award demonstrates how important City Park is to all of us who use it. It is our only park, and we hope that winning this award will help protect it from planned redevelopment. We are absolutely delighted to win”

 

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