News

Manchester’s first new city centre park in 100 years given prestigious Green Flag Award

Judges said that they had "never seen such an outstanding urban park" in the award's history.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 16th July 2024

Manchester’s first new city centre park to be created in 100 years has been given a prestigious Green Flag Award.

It may be on your radar that, for several years running now, green spaces in Greater Manchester have deservingly been recipients of the prestigious Green Flag Award – which is an internationally-recognised honour given annually to the parks, green spaces, and cemeteries that have “attained a high standard of green space”.

Green Flag Awards are granted by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy each year to recognise accessible green spaces that set “an international benchmark for management”.

And it looks like 2024 has proven to be a stand-out year for our region too, as Manchester‘s newest urban park, Mayfield Park – otherwise known as the city centre‘s first new park in 100 years – has been handed the coveted honour this year.

Judges said that they had “never seen such an outstanding urban park” in more than 20 years of judging the award.

ADVERTISEMENT
Manchester’s first new city centre park in 100 years has been given the prestigious Green Flag Award / Credit: Richard Bloom (via Mayfield MCR on Instagram)

“The original design and specification standards are exceptional, the facilities are of the highest standard, and the site security and cleansing is excellent,” Green Flag Award judges said of Mayfield Park as they gave it the honour for 2024.

“The play facilities are inspired and exciting, the horticultural and arboricultural standards are brilliant, and the biodiversity of the site is cared-for and blooming.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It was a real pleasure and privilege to be the first to judge this world-class park.”

Judges said that they had “never seen such an outstanding urban park” / Credit: Richard Bloom (via Mayfield MCR on Instagram)

While it may be one of the most well-known nationally, and certainly one of the most prestigious, the Green Flag Award isn’t the only honour Mayfield Park has been bestowed since it first opened to be public back in 2022.

Just this year alone, it has already scooped up eight accolades for things like excellence in landscape design, place regeneration, and the natural environment.

ADVERTISEMENT

Laura Percy, who is the Senior Development Director at Landsec U+I on behalf of the Mayfield Partnership, said that the park’s creators and managers are “thrilled” to win the prestigious award, adding that: “This is recognition to all those who helped to create and deliver this incredible green space, and to the management team who ensure every day that it is a vibrant, welcoming and safe space for everyone to enjoy.

Read more:

“It’s a joy to come to work every day here and see kids playing and people from across the region coming to visit.”

Featured Image – Richard Bloom (via Green Flag Award)

News

Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street

An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.

Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.

Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.

Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.

He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.

Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.

“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.

“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”

If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.

Read more

Featured image: Google Maps

News

Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.

UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.

The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.

Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.

To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.

Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.

“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.

“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”

Read more:

Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.

Featured Image – Laughterama (Supplied)

More News

Damo restaurant Altrincham tribute regular customer Haroon death

Eats

Altrincham restaurant pays touching tribute to beloved regular after tragic passing

Boroughs

Life-saving defibrillators to be installed on dozens of trains travelling through Greater Manchester

City Centre

One of Manchester’s oldest surviving Victorian mills to be repurposed into ‘distinctive’ rental homes

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches