Cadley Park makes it four!

Just a few months after opening, Swadlincote’s Cadley Park has been awarded a prestigious Green Flag Award – which means South Derbyshire now proudly boasts four award-winning parks.

The transformed former colliery site only opened in April of this year and joins Maurice Lea Memorial Park, Eureka Park and Swadlincote Woodlands who all retained their awards and recognition as being amongst the country’s best parks.

The coveted Green Flag Award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Cadley Park comprises 6.2 acres of new green space for South Derbyshire where people can enjoy woodland, meadow grassland, wetland, a pump track, a learn to ride area, cycle ways, walkways, seating, plus areas for informal recreation.

To help celebrate Cadley Park’s Green Flag Award, the Chair of South Derbyshire District Council, Councillor Sean Bambrick and Council staff were joined by Team GB Junior Academy BMX racer George Hunt who put the new pump track through its paces with some flicks and tricks.

Councillor Robert Pearson, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council, said: “The news that Cadley Park has achieved Green Flag accreditation within its first few months of completion and joins our three other award-winning parks is a fantastic achievement and testament to the hard work and dedication of all our partners and staff who were involved in the re-development.

“The amazing transformation that has taken place at Cadley Park has been a rewarding project to be a part of - as we now have a fantastic green space where future generations can visit and enjoy a wide range of activities.”

The £1 million green space investment to transform the site was funded by 106 monies and South Derbyshire District Council alongside a Sport England grant for the pump track - with support from British Cycling. It was named Cadley Park to reflect the history and heritage of the site’s former colliery.

Commenting on the news that four South Derbyshire parks have met the Green Flag Award standard, Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd, MBE said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved In South Derbyshire in achieving their new Green Flag Award.

“Cadley Park is now a vital green space for the community in South Derbyshire , bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available here.

18 July 2023