Here's what we're doing to make sure our waterways raise the Green Flag.
What is the Green Flag scheme?
Many of you will be familiar with Green Flags and their links with parks and green spaces. The scheme, run by Keep Britain Tidy, recognises spaces that boast the highest possible environmental standards, are beautifully maintained, and play an important role in the local community.
Most Green Flag sites are parks, but we want people to know that our canals and rivers can have just as positive impact on our wellbeing as green spaces.
The scheme sets the national standard and provides a high level quality against which such spaces are measured. Winning a Green Flag award shows that a space:
- improves customer experiences
- increases the profile, interest and recognition in the canals and surrounding communities
- increases links with external bodies to canals and communities
- improves the local economy
- offers pride and a sense of place to those involved and the communities they live and work in
- spreads good practice to neighbouring green spaces and waterways
736 miles of Green Flag canals
- Ashton Canal
- Nottingham & Beeston Canal (Nottingham)
- Birmingham City Centre (Sea Life Centre to Selly Oak)
- Birmingham Main Line (Revolution Walk)
- Bridgwater & Taunton Canal
- Calder & Hebble Navigation (Sowerby Bridge to Brighouse)
- Chesterfield Canal (Kiveton Park to West Stockwith)
- Combs Reservoir
- Coventry Canal
- Erewash Canal
- Gloucester & Sharpness Canal (excluding Sharpness Port)
- Grand Union Canal (Foxton Locks)
- Haggerston Kingsland Basin and Regent's Canal Nature Reserve.
- Grand Union Canal (Hanwell Lock Flight)
- Harlow Mill Lock (River Stort)
- Huddersfield Narrow Canal
- Huddersfield Narrow Canal (Saddleworth)
- Huddersfield Narrow Canal East
- Kennet & Avon Canal
- Lancaster Canal (Bolton le Sands, Carnforth & Tewitfield)
- Lancaster Canal (Garstang from Bilsborrow to the Lune Aqueduct)
- Leamington Spa (Bridge 39 to Bridge 44 Myton Road)
- Leeds & Liverpool Canal
- Leeds & Liverpool Canal (Greenberfield Locks to Barrowford Locks including Barrowford Reservoir and Lower Foulridge Reservoir)
- Leeds & Liverpool Canal (Stanley Flight to Wigan top lock)
- Macclesfield Canal
- Macclesfield Canal (Sutton Reservoir)
- Monmouth & Brecon Canal
- Montgomery Canal
- Peak Forest Canal (in the Peak District including Marple Lock Flight)
- Peak Forest Canal (Bugsworth Basin)
- Pocklington Canal
- Regents Canal (Mile End to Limehouse Basin)
- Ripon Canal
- River Lee Navigation (Waltham Lock to Cheshunt)
- River Soar/Grand Union (Loughborough to Kilby Bridge)
- Riverside Park (River Severn to Worcester & Birmingham Canal)
- Rochdale Canal
- Rochdale Canal (Lock 87 to Lock 89 Manchester City Centre)
- Royal Albert Dock/Salthouse Dock
- Selby Canal
- Sheffield & Tinsley Canal (Victoria Quays to Bacon Lane Bridge)
- Shropshire Union Canal (Barbridge Junction to Ellesmere Port National Waterway Museum)
- Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich to Audlem)
- Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal
- Stonebridge Lock to River Lee Navigation (Tottenham locks to Chalk bridge, Haringey)
- Stourbridge Canal
- Swansea Canal
- Tame Valley Canal (Ocker Hill to Perry Bar Top Lock)
- Tees Barrage Park
- Town Arm
- Trent & Mersey Canal (Kidsgrove to Stoke)
- Trentham & Stone (Bridge 108A (Stoke) to Bridge 89 (Aston))
- Walsall lock flight & basin
- Weaver Navigation
- Wolverhampton Lock Flight
Green Heritage award
Plus, the Marple Aqueduct and Marple Lock Flight have won a Green Heritage Award.
