Victoria Park in Stretford wins top national award

Stretford’s Victoria Park has won a top national award for being one of the best in the North West.

The popular park is one of 70 parks and green spaces from across the UK to achieve “Local Favourite” status in the Fields in Trust coveted UK’s Favourite Parks 2022 award.

Hundreds of local residents voted for Victoria Park in the Favourite Parks Award – proving what a fabulous asset it is to the local community. The park, which is run by Trafford Council and recently retained its green flag status, is kept beautifully and is hugely popular with families as well as the young and old.

Cllr Stephen Adshead, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Environmental Services, said: “This is fantastic news and, once again, shows how much people in Trafford love their parks. We have some fantastic parks and open spaces in the borough and we are very proud of each and every one of them.

“Thank you to everyone who nominated Victoria Park and thanks to the Friends Group who do so much to help keep the park looking beautiful. Green spaces have proven to improve air quality and, as a Council, we have made addressing our climate crisis a top corporate priority.”

Shelly Quinton-Hulme, chairperson for the Friends of Victoria Park, said she was delighted with the award. She said: “We are so very proud that our community voted Victoria Park as their favourite local park. Thanks go to everyone that voted, everyone who has donated time, money, resources and all the staff that work in the park.

“We have worked hard over the last 20 years to improve the park for everyone to enjoy, and we will continue to do so. We always need help to do this and if you have some time to donate please get in touch and help. You can email us at info@fovps.org.uk or pop into the park Community Building and have a chat with us.”

The UK’s Favourite Parks award is organised by green space charity Fields in Trust who, for almost 100 years, have legally protected parks and green spaces ensuring they will always be available for future generations to enjoy.

With more green spaces nominated in 2022 than ever before, the campaign has illustrated how appreciation of our local parks has grown since the pandemic. In total, over 30,000 people across the UK voted for their favourite park and Penrhos Coastal Park in Holyhead, Wales, has emerged as the overall winner and UK’s Favourite Park 2022.

Chief Executive of Fields in Trust, Helen Griffiths, said: “We’ve had a fantastic response to the celebration of our parks from all across the UK and I’d like to thank everyone who nominated and voted over the summer. 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.”