Awards

Thanks to the hard work of our members plus the support of SCC, we've gained several significant awards.

Bees Needs Community Champion Award Bees, and other pollinating insects, are an essential part of our environment and play a crucial role in food production.  But to thrive they need access to a variety of nectar-rich flowers and shrubs from spring onwards, and protection from pesticides. With this in mind, certain parts of the Rec are allowed to grow wild. In 2024 Friends of Portswood Rec have again been one of a small number of community organisations recognised by DEFRA as Bees Needs Champions. This is our third award, and we're justly proud of it!

Field in Trust  Although it was developed as a park in the 1930's, since 2012 Portswood Recreation Ground (for that's our full title) has been a Field in Trust.  That means that there's a legal agreement that the landowner, Southampton City Council (SCC), will retain it as a green space in perpetuity.

Green Flag award  Not just a local award, Green Flag is the benchmark standard for publicly accessible parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom and around the world.  Parks are assessed on a range of criteria including signage, accessibility, safety, facilities, community involvement, biodiversity and much more besides. A total of eight parks in Southampton met Green Flag standard in 2023, well above many equivalent local authorities. You can usually see the flag flying from the flagpole by the Grosvenor Road entrance. 

Wilder Southampton This is a partnership project between SCC and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, to recognise the work by both groups and individuals to proect and encourage wildlife in their local area.  Wilder Southampton is supported by the National Lottery Heritage fund, as part of the nationwide Nextdoor Nature project.  You can find the plaque near the Brickfield Road entrance.