Somerset Council is celebrating after receiving a Green Flag Award for Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve, and Ham Hill Country Park.
It comes as the internationally recognised standard for parks and green spaces celebrates its 30th year.
The sites are part of a record breaking 2,391 in the UK to achieve the award this year – a fantastic testament to the hard work, passion and dedication of the teams that care for green spaces in Somerset, ensuring they are maintained to a high standard for visitors and residents to enjoy.
Ham Hill Country Park has also achieved the Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the management and promotion of its historic features.
Beyond their award-winning status, both Ham Hill Country Park and Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve offer visitors the chance to experience some of Somerset’s most diverse and inspiring landscapes.
Ham Hill is renowned for its rich history as one of the largest Iron Age hill forts in Britain, its distinctive honey-coloured Hamstone, and panoramic views stretching across the Somerset Levels and surrounding countryside. The park’s wildflower meadows, ancient archaeology and varied habitats support a wide range of wildlife, making it a popular destination for walkers, families and nature enthusiasts throughout the year.
Recent National Lottery Heritage Fund investment in the site, including the new Ham Hill Visitor Centre, has further enhanced the visitor experience, providing a welcoming hub where people can learn about the park’s fascinating heritage, wildlife and events before setting out to explore.
Meanwhile, Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve provides a tranquil haven for wildlife, with open water, woodland, reedbeds and flower-rich meadows attracting kingfishers, great crested grebes, dragonflies, butterflies and numerous species of resident and migratory birds.
Just a short walk from Chard town centre, the reserve offers accessible paths, birdwatching opportunities and beautiful seasonal displays that make it a favourite destination for both local residents and visitors alike.
Together, these Green Flag Award-winning sites showcase the very best of Somerset’s natural and cultural heritage, offering memorable opportunities for recreation, learning and wildlife discovery in every season.
Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said:
Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy. Yet for millions of people, particularly in the most deprived areas, local parks simply don’t feel safe or welcoming.
With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it’s a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways to improve people’s quality of life.
Somerset Council have shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like this that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard.
Congratulations to everyone involved.
Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Communities, Environment and Climate Change added:
We are delighted that Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve and Ham Hill Country Park have once again been recognised with Green Flag Awards. These much-loved green spaces are a real asset to Somerset, offering residents and visitors places to enjoy nature, heritage and the outdoors. This award is a testament to the dedication of our teams, volunteers and partners who work so hard to care for them. Well done also to the other winners across the county, who, alongside our wonderful sites, reflect the hard work and commitment of their teams and volunteers.
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under contract from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
To find out more about Somerset’s Country Parks, Local Nature Reserves and upcoming activities visit: discover-wild-somerset.co.uk.
Ham Hill staff and volunteers celebrate the site’s 2026 Green Flag Award outside Ham Hill Visitor Centre.
Chard Ranger Hannah Stanton (second from right) with volunteers at Chard Reservoir celebrating the site’s 2026 Green Flag Award.
