Six of Manchester’s parks and cemeteries have been recognised as some of the best in the UK, and each bagged a Green Flag award.
Heaton Park, and Alexandra Park, and Blackley, Southern, Gorton, and Philips Park cemeteries have been named some of the country’s most “welcoming places”, and have all given the prestigious nod for 2022 as a result.
Not only that, but Heaton Park – which covers an area of over 600-acres – has also clinched the coveted Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the management of its historic features too.
If you’re not familiar with the The Green Flag Award scheme and why it’s such a brilliant achievement for the city-region, the international quality mark recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces.
It aims to set the benchmark standard for the management of communal spaces across the UK and around the world.
Heaton Park / Credit: Geograph (David Dixon) | Wikimedia Commons
Every site recognised through the scheme is assessed by experienced judges who judge the parks using eight criteria – a welcoming place, healthy, safe and secure, well-maintained and clean, environmental management, biodiversity, landscape and heritage, community involvement, marketing and communication, and management.
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Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd has congratulated everyone involved in “making all these sites in Manchester worthy of a Green Flag Award.”
“The parks are vital green spaces for the community in Manchester,” he added.
“This award is testament to all the hard work of staff and volunteers, who do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”
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Alexandra Park / Credit: Donald Judge (via Flickr)
Cllr Lee-Ann Igbon – Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council – also added: “After two years that have seen parks and green spaces play an important role for people through lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely [and] in addition, our cemeteries are important places of rest and our teams work very hard to maintain them.
“The news that six of Manchester’s parks and cemeteries have achieved the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team of staff and volunteers that make all of our green spaces great.”
Featured Image – David Dixon (via Geograph)
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Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
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.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
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.”
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.
Emily Sergeant -
28th July 2022 
