MediaCity achieves coveted Green Flag Award

As the sun came out in Salford, MediaCity’s answer to celebrity gardener Monty Don – Tony Appleton and Peter Alford proudly raised the prestigious Green Flag Award.

For the eighth year running, MediaCity’s gardens have been recognised as one of the most impressive public spaces in the UK.

The news that MediaCity has achieved the accreditation – the international quality mark for parks and green spaces – is testament to the hard work and dedication of Tony and Peter from Wright Landscapes who cultivate and care for the green spaces that MediaCity’s workers, visitors and residents enjoy throughout the year.

The award winning gardens feature wild flower patches, attracting an abundance of bees, butterflies, bugs and ladybirds, a beautiful rose garden in memory of broadcaster and meteorologist Diane Oxberry as well as the stunning Navvies Garden. The Navvies Garden was created over two years ago to remember almost 1000 labourers – many of whom travelled from Ireland, to dig The Manchester Ship Canal during the industrial revolution. Today, the community garden is a place to reflect and a haven for flowers, decorative plants as well as grows produce supplied to Salford charities Loaves and Fishes and Salford Foodbank.

Tony said: “Peter and I are totally dedicated to turning the green spaces at MediaCity into something special. It gives a real sense of satisfaction to see people enjoying the gardens, watching the wildlife that it creates as well as contributing to the community in terms of the fruit and vegetables that we grow.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at MediaCity on achieving a Green Flag Award.

“We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to maintain the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.

“It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, 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.