East Suffolk Services’ Grounds Team Secures 10th Green Flag for Seafront Gardens

Congratulations to our Grounds Maintenance Team! Their tireless dedication and meticulous care have once again earned the Seafront Gardens a prestigious Green Flag Award, recognising them as one of the country’s best parks for the tenth consecutive year.

This achievement is more than just an accolade; it reflects one of our core values – Environmental stewardship. The Green Flag Award is judged on criteria that assess whether a space is safe, well managed, environmentally sustainable, and valued by its community. It celebrates parks and green spaces that bring communities together, protect wildlife, and create safe, welcoming places for everyone to enjoy – today and for future generations. To be consistently recognised at this level is a true honour and testament to the team’s commitment to sustainable change in Suffolk.

Restored between 2011 and 2015 through funding from East Suffolk Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the gardens are a jewel of Felixstowe’s seafront. As a Grade II listed site of historical importance, the Gardens require specialist care and attention. Our grounds team has risen to this challenge, balancing the preservation of heritage features with innovative approaches to ecological management. Their work includes protecting grass banks, creating habitats for invertebrates and reptiles, and continually finding new ways to enhance biodiversity.

Commenting on the Green Flag Award, Cllr Sarah Whitelock, East Suffolk’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said: “For the tenth year in a row, we are incredibly proud to see the stunning Felixstowe Seafront Gardens achieve Green Flag status. I would like to thank everyone involved in the continued success of this community space, who ensure it is a safe, clean and welcoming destination for people to visit and enjoy. I am also really pleased that in caring for these gardens, we have considered ecological diversity and habitats.”

The Mayor of Felixstowe, Cllr Corrine Franklin, said:

“Felixstowe can be immensely proud of its Seafront Gardens, which have been awarded a Green Flag for the 10th year running.  Whatever the season of the year, there is always life and colour to be found there.”

“The beauty of our Seafront Gardens is down to the hard work of the staff at East Suffolk Services, and to The Friends of Felixstowe Seafront Gardens, who spend many hours maintaining the flower beds and shrubs, as well as the attentive care of Mr London, who looks after the Arch Cascade Pond.”

Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, added:

“Congratulations to everyone involved in Felixstowe Seafront Gardens, who have worked tirelessly to ensure that it achieves the high standards required for the Green Flag Award.

“Quality parks and green spaces like this make the country a heathier place to live and work in, and a stronger place in which to invest.

“Crucially, Felixstowe Seafront Gardens is a vital green space for communities in East Suffolk to enjoy nature, and during the ongoing cost of living crisis it is a free and safe space for families to socialise. It also provides important opportunities for local people and visitors to reap the physical and mental health benefits of green space.”

Without the dedication of our grounds team, places of such beauty and cultural significance could easily fall into disrepair. Thanks to their hard work, Felixstowe’s Seafront Gardens continue to be a vibrant space for residents and visitors alike – a living landscape that connects history, community, and nature.

For more information on our Grounds Maintenance services head to Grounds Maintenance – East Suffolk Services