York's award winning parks

WE'VE all heard of Blue Flag beaches but did you know that since 1996 Green Flags have been given to the country's best parks?

The Green Flag Awards are judged by an army of more than 700 green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including, horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the awards, more parks and green spaces than ever will be flying the flag in 2016.

Four are in York and we can see why.

Take West Bank Park it stands alone among the city's open spaces as a curious combination of quintessentially English, rambling countryside and formally laid out lawns and cypresses.

With good reason. Look hard enough in the woodland off Acomb Road and you can just about make out the remains of West Bank House. Before it was demolished in the 1960s this was a fine estate with a world famous nursery known as the 'Kew of the North.'

The owner of the estate was James Backhouse, a missionary who had travelled to Australia where he visited every penal colony. He was responsible for introducing Quakerism to Australia.

While there Backhouse studied plants and sent specimens back to York as well as Kew Gardens. With a world famous rock garden, underground fernery, prizewinning orchids and endless varieties of fruit trees, Backhouse Nurseries had been the garden designers of note.

The water features and rockeries may have been filled in or removed, but this park tucked away near Holgate windmill remains very grand indeed.

Clarence Gardens. Picture: Matt Clark.

Clarence Gardens is a 1900’s pocket park in the heart of York which offers space for play, bowls and informal recreation, The garden is a valuable asset for local residents, office workers and visitors alike. The layout gives a feeling of seclusion from the busy streets outside, while open views within the gardens provides a safe environment for visitors of all ages.

Clarence Gardens. Picture: Matt Clark.

Then there is Glen Gardens, a wonderful Edwardian facility in the heart of York and a valuable asset for local residents. Although small in size, it offers visitors the opportunity for peaceful reflection, good quality bowls, tennis and basketball facilities and a play area designed to suit all ages. Since its opening in 1915, the well designed layout has remained much the same.

Glen Gardens. Picture: Matt Clark.

They used to harvest hay at Clifton Ings and in 1709 this was the official venue of York races. Trouble is the land flooded badly, so 20 years later the racecourse was transferred to Knavesmire.

It's a lot quieter these days and just up from the Ings is Rawcliffe Country Park, something a bit different for a city open space. No manicured flower beds, here, it took 2000 trees and 1,500 woodland shrubs to establish.

Rawcliffe Country Park. Picture: Matt Clark.

Developing woodland includes willow, birch and pine with oak and ash. Hawthorn, blackthorn and dog rose thickets give nesting cover and food for an increasing range of birds. The country park office is the focus for activity days and special events and can be booked for use by school parties.

Rawcliffe Country Park. Picture: Matt Clark.

The most famous York park with a Green Flag Award is Rowntree Park, 20-acres of greenery by the Ouse featuring children's playgrounds, tennis courts, bowling greens, basketball court, skateboarding area and general areas for picnicking.

Rowntree Park. Picture: Matt Clark.

The park also features a large lake, a canal and a water cascade. It was created in memory of employees of Rowntree's who died in the First World War and was opened in July 1921 by philanthropist Joseph Rowntree.

Rowntree Park. Picture: Matt Clark.

The gates at the riverbank entrance are eighteenth-century and were given by the company as a memorial to the people of York who died in the Second World War.