A PRESTIGIOUS Green Flag which has been awarded to Wellington’s grade two listed formal Edwardian park for the past decade was nearly lost this year.

Town councillors have been told how close the park came to missing out on the environmental excellence award after nine years because of its poor state when ownership was handed over to them earlier this year by Somerset Council.

Town chief executive Dave Farrow said Wellington’s newly-appointed open spaces team had just two months to work on the four-and-a-half acres of the park before the Green Flag judging took place.

Mr Farrow said: “The park was not in a good condition when we took it on, to the extent that the designation was at risk.

“The open spaces team under the open spaces manager’s direction had only been in place two months when the inspection took place.

“The work required to achieve this should not be underestimated.”

Mr Farrow said there was ‘delight’ when the team’s hard work paid off and the announcement came that the heritage Green Flag had been awarded again.

He said: “The report noted that the team ‘has an affinity’ with the park and ‘it is good to see that Wellington Park is in safe hands for the future with the town council’.

The Green Flag recognises and rewards well-managed parks and open spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the UK and around the world.

Mr Farrow said praise was also due for the town’s Swains Nature Reserve, which had retained its Green Flag status.

He said Wellington was now awaiting the outcome of Britain in Bloom judging which took place in July.

Mr Farrow said: “The day went well and we are hopeful of a positive outcome when the results are announced in October.”