Awards

Getting an award or accreditation for FOSP&NR is a huge reward for the hard work that the FOSP volunteers have undertaken to satisfy the requirements needed to reach a recognised standard of achievement and it means a great deal to all of us.

Green Flag Award:

Massive achievement, the Green Flag Award 2017/18

“A massive well done and many congratulations on achieving a Green Flag Award for 2017.  This is great news and a fantastic achievement for everyone involved.

Share with the wider group of Friends and volunteers that assist in maintaining and improving the pond and allotments. I have a Green Flag for you which we can arrange to be presented in the near future.”

Dave Pritchard, Green Flag Award

http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk/

The Green Flag Award scheme celebrates the very best parks and green spaces – across the UK and further afield. Now in its 21st year, Green Flags fly over 1,700 sites, that’s equal to 64,300 Wembley football pitches in England alone. Sites are judged by green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability, community involvement and providing a warm welcome.

Check out the report on the Gloucester News Centre:

http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk/green-flag-awards-gloucesters-robinswood-saintbridge/

Cllr Richard Cook, said: 

“These awards are a great recognition of all the volunteer hours and the significant amount of partnership working between many different organisations that make these areas some of the best maintained open spaces in the country.”

This award has been extended into the 2018/19 period. Keeping up the standard for this requires planning and constant maintenance.

Our Green Flag Project page.

Other Awards and accreditations:

      1. Gloucester City Council

The Gloucester City Council Open Space Strategy 2014 – 2019 vision statement reads ‘To create and manage a diverse network of good quality, sustainable and accessible open spaces to serve the needs and aspirations of the residents of Gloucester.’  (Page 8)

Local residents, members of FOSP continue to make contact with the City Council throughout the year making them aware of any issues around the site such as overflowing bins, fallen trees and waste removal.

The relationship between FOSP continues to be sympathetic to the aims of FOSP but not without some effort from the FOSP organisation. The City Council, though undergoing some organisational changes, has been very responsive throughout the year.

FOSP will continue to maintain a good working partnership with the City Council and its appointed contractors throughout the coming period. 

      1. Natural England

Natural England awarded the Saintbridge Pond with the ‘Nature Reserve’ status before that issue of the last report which allows it to publicise this category in its title and across other media

Discussion amongst the members of FOSP took place at the 2017 AGM about incorporation of the words ‘Nature Reserve’ into its title and this discussion continues to culminate in a final decision to be taken at the 2018 AGM.

      1. Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT) works throughout the county to provide wildlife knowledge and expertise, from ecological consultancy to wildlife advice. FOSP is seeking the support of the GWT to ensure that ecology of Saintbridge Pond Nature Reserve is correctly managed by its volunteers.

This year the GWT has introduced a new scheme called “Wild Town’ which will be a useful resource to the Saintbridge Nature Reserve in the coming period. It is hoped that the activities of GWT will bring other similar projects together for more information, experience and ideas.

      1. Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)

The CPRE works to protect, promote and enhance our towns and countryside to make them better places to live, work and enjoy, and to ensure the countryside is protected for now and future generations. FOSP has received an award from them in recognition of the restoration effort to reclaim this green space for the wildlife and as amenity land.


Please help us maintain the pond and surrounding area by making a donation to help fund the work we do as volunteers. You’ll be helping us with your donation, 100% of funds received go to the work we do in conservation. [paypal_donation_button]


 

Peaceful and tranquil, the pond, the island and the surrounding area in autumn