COUNTRYSIDE rangers and volunteers in South Somerset are delighted to have again secured Green Flag Awards for the Ham Hill and Yeovil Country Parks and the Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve.
The sites consistently receive high praise from judges for their significant level of voluntary involvement and the diverse range of community events.
The council’s countryside manager, Katy Menday, said: “It is testament to the continuing hard work of the rangers and volunteers that we have again secured the Green Flag Awards for the sites.
“Our countryside sites have very high visitor numbers and all those visits bring a range of pressures, but the teams work tirelessly to keep the sites safe and clean and to deliver a mix of activities that appeal to a range of visitors.
“We are grateful to our Friends groups who continue to support the parks with fundraising and event delivery and to Somerset Wildlife Trust Yeovil Area Group for their help in monitoring the wildlife at the parks.”
The council’s leisure and culture spokesman, Cllr Sylvia Seal, said: “The work of the volunteer teams is vital to maintaining these sensitive wildlife and heritage rich sites.
“In 2014, nearly 2,500 days were donated to work at the countryside sites.
“This is an astonishing figure and without a doubt we could not operate without our volunteers and friends.”
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