Redcar and Cleveland Council are celebrating all things outdoors and summery as the 2022 school holidays approach.
July is all about #LoveParks, designed to recognise our borough’s parks and green open spaces and the facilities they contain – along with the hard work that goes into maintaining them.
It will focus on Locke, Borough and Zetland Parks in Redcar and the Valley Gardens of Marske and Saltburn, before exploring our countryside and woodland regions at Flatt’s Lane, Guisborough Forest and other locations in East Cleveland next month. #LoveParks is a national Keep Britain Tidy campaign too, with National Park Week beginning later this month on 29 July.
A small army of council staff and volunteers work hard all year to take care of these beautiful areas and, as the growth season comes around, to prepare and maintain them for the summer months.
The teams out and about this week included streetsweeper operative, Sarah Jackson, clearing the paths of Locke Park and Jamie Chester and Kristine Agnew, hard at work in Marske Valley Garden. Kristine said: “Today I’ve been sent to Marske Valley Garden to do some normal maintenance, where we have been clearing litter, cutting and edging the grass and clearing the gutters and paths of weeds. I love my job because I love that the outside is my office. I love working for the community and making a difference to where we live.”
Enjoying the sunshine and fresh air in these locations were Sue Garner from Redcar and her family visiting from down south: “I love the lake at Locke Park and feeding the swans – and watching the babies when they’ve just hatched,” says community minister at St. Hilda’s Church. “I like to come for breakfast at the café, and I think it’s amazing what’s been done in this park, not just for the retired and elderly but for youngsters as well, such as the new outdoor musical instruments.”
“I love to come and use the courts here at Borough Park,” says tennis enthusiast, John Ma. “It’s a great facility to practice my skills in a nice outdoor environment.”
Also visiting Locke Park were regulars, Kath Smart and Jacqui Bray with their dogs, Bob and Oli: “It’s an extremely good place to walk the dogs. It’s beautiful - just beautiful,” says Kath. “And you can get a really nice coffee here now too.”
Supporting the work of the council are a number of dedicated local volunteer groups, who carry out invaluable work in local parks. Mike Carling runs Friends of Borough Park, who were out in force today, tending the public rose garden:
“I think you’ve just got to look around and see all the colour and smell all the roses,” says Mike. “It makes all the work worthwhile. Even in January and February there is colour in this park; and that’s what we’re trying to do. Raise money with coffee mornings, bring parks to life – they’re here for people to enjoy.”
Councillor Barry Hunt, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing, said:
“July is the perfect month to celebrate our parks and gardens and everything we love about them. The weather has been fantastic, school is almost out for summer, and our teams and volunteer groups have been working incredibly hard so that our residents and visitors can enjoy these areas at their best.”
If you’ve been enjoying time in the borough’s parks and gardens, share your photos on social media using the hashtags #LoveParks and #RedcarAndCleveland