Last year South Derbyshire District Council was awarded its first ever Green Flag national award for the excellence of Rosliston Forestry Centre.

This year Maurice Lea Memorial Park in Church Gresley has also been awarded a Green Flag.

Says Cllr John Lemmon, Chairman of South Derbyshire District Council’s Housing and Community Services Committee, “In our Annual Report for 2007-2008, which can be found on www.south-derbys.gov.uk/annualreport, we showed the Rosliston flag and promised that we would achieve Green Flag awards for more of our parks. The award for Maurice Lea Memorial Park shows how the Council is working to make South Derbyshire better.

“So many members of our staff have worked hard for this award from the grounds staff, the park-keepers as well as administrator Joanne Stretton who pulled together everyone’s work to win this prestigious award. Big cities often have lots of funding and plenty of staff and resources so that they can achieve national status. We might be smaller in South Derbyshire but we punch above our weight. It’s like Gresley Rovers taking on Manchester United and winning.”