Telford and Shrewsbury prepare for battle of the parks

Both beauty spots have been nominated in the category of 'UK's Best Park – as voted for by you!' at this year's Fields in Trust Awards.

Fields in Trust is a national charity which works to safeguard parks and campaign for better protection of green spaces against developers.

People have until 5pm today to nominate a green space for the title – so there is still time to put other county parks forward.

Visit www.fieldsintrust.org to nominate your favourite park

From tomorrow, people will be able to log onto the group's website and start voting. The winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony at the start of December.

Angela Lewis, from Fields in Trust, said: "I think most people really appreciate having a local green space when its close to them – somewhere they can go and walk the dog, play with their children or grandchildren, or really just relax in the park.

"I think the vast majority of people really appreciate their local park. In all weathers, the good thing about using your local park is that it's free.

"The competition is to find the UK's best park as voted by you. It allows anybody to go onto our website at www.fieldsintrust.org to nominate their favourite park.

"They just need to write up to 50 words, attach a photo if they want to, and indeed we have got a couple that have been nominated in Shropshire. The Telford Town Park in Telford has been nominated, and The Quarry in the centre of Shrewsbury has been nominated as well.

"People have only got until today to nominate, but then on November 5 the voting opens, and people can go onto our website, see which of their local parks have been nominated, and then show their love for them by voting."

Angela said there had been a resurgence in the use and popularity of parks and green spaces in recent years.

She said: "Recently, especially, there has been a growth of outdoor gyms, and boot camps, and buggy fitness, and things like that, and people have realised that their local park is an excellent green space to exercise in.

"But I think they have always been popular and always been there just for people to relax in as well."

Making a splash at Telford park

• A lot of cash has been splashed out on Telford Town Park in recent years – with a new water play area one of its more eye-catching features for youngsters. The park is an important part of the town’s £200 million-plus Southwater development.

• It has not one but five play areas, with spiders web climbing frames, rocket slides and a toddlers’ sand pit to get stuck into.

• Add in an aerial ropes course, crazy golf, fishing pools and Wonderland and you’re not going to be short of something to do on a family day out.

• Set in 450 acres, its QEII arena can hold up to 10,000 for open-air events and has been used to host summer concerts over the past few years. This year the park hosted platinum-selling Irish boyband Boyzone and solo star and Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon over the summer.

• There are heritage and nature trails for those seeking a quieter day out, and three floral gardens to explore.

• Telford Town Park has already been recognised as one of the best parks in the UK this year in another awards scheme.

• The beauty spot was named the nation’s 18th favourite park out of more than 1,500 in the People’s Choice competition, organised by the Green Flag Award scheme.

• The People’s Choice 2015 top 20 parks were voted for by members of the public.

Shrewsbury’s quarry of flowers

• Flower is definitely the power at The Quarry, the home of the ever-popular annual Shrewsbury Flower Show.

• The highlight of the park calendar, more than three million blooms are on show during the event along with show jumping, top military bands and continuous entertainment.

• It attracts numerous celebrity visitors including television chef Tom Kerridge and gardening guru Pippa Greenwood, and finishes on a bang with a massive firework extravaganza.

• The park, dubbed Shrewsbury’s “jewel in the crown”, is far from all about the show, though.

• The area has been an important site for recreation and relaxation for Salop residents since the 16th century.

• People go there to relax, enjoy walks, picnic, fish along the banks of the River Severn, or just to let off steam.

• At the centre of the 29-acre park lies the Dingle, a formal floral masterpiece created by world renowned gardener Percy Thrower during his 28 years there as parks superintendent.

• It’s a beautiful sunken garden landscaped with alpine borders, colourful bedding plants, shrubbery and water features. Carnivals, regattas and dragon boat racing are all held there, while in recent times it has played host to open-air concerts from the likes of Jessie J and Status Quo.