From Adrian Lane, Exeter 383262, July 17, 2008

STOVER Country Park near Newton Abbot has received a Green Flag Award for the fifth consecutive year.

The Park is among a record 743 green spaces in England and Wales to receive the honour from the Civic Trust, and recognises it among the best green spaces in the country. It has been another successful year for Stover Country Park and Local Nature Reserve, and it is proving equally popular with visitors and wildlife.

Rare Downy Emerald Dragonflies were recorded to be breeding for the first time at the site in a newly renovated pond below the aerial walkway. Experts have been searching for them for over 15 years.

Dormice are having another successful breeding season in specially designed boxes, and a pair of Nightjar successfully reared two young on the heathland, while on Stover Lake three pairs of great crested grebe were present with two young hatched in July.

Councillor Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council Executive Member for Environment, said: "It is a great achievement for Stover Country Park to have won the Green Flag Award for five years running. Devon is fortunate to have such a unique green space that provides excellent access for visitors, and the wildlife is flourishing which is testament to the hard work by the County Council Rangers and volunteers."

Councillor John Smith, Devon County Council Deputy Leader and local County Councillor for Kingsteignton, said: "The staff and volunteers at Stover Country Park have surpassed themselves by winning this award yet again. It takes a great deal of time and effort - much of it in people's spare time from the volunteers that help with everything from tree planting, nest box repairs, path maintenance, boardwalk construction, habitat work and wildlife recording. Their dedication and commitment is reflected in this superb award."

The Country Park, which is owned and managed by Devon County Council, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and listed on the register of Historic Parks and Gardens. It hosts the Ted Hughes Poetry Trail and earlier this spring a new outdoor classroom was added to the children's poetry trail area.

The 114 acre site attracts over 200,000 visitors a year. So far in 2008, a team of four Devon County Council Rangers, supported by volunteers, have accommodated visits from 1,009 pupils and students. That includes 34 schools, three pre-school nurseries, two colleges and one international visit from French students. In addition, 14 community groups and organisations held activity visits to the park including local scouts, guides, and conservation groups.

Green Flag Award winners are judged to be welcoming, safe and well maintained with the support and involvement of the local community.

For more information visit: www.greenflagaward.org.uk.

Notes to Editors:

Photographs of Stover Country Park are available. For information contact the Media and PR Office on 01392 383262.

The Green Flag Award scheme, launched in 1996, is managed by the Civic Trust on behalf of Communities and Local Government and the Green Flag Advisory Board which comprises founders of the scheme, sponsors, winners and judges. The scheme is sponsored by Communities and Local Government, English Heritage, The Countryside Agency, English Nature, and in Wales by the Countryside Council for Wales, the Design Commission for Wales, Environment Agency Wales, and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Any green space in England and Wales that is freely accessible to the public is eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award. Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status. A Green Pennant Award recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups. Green Heritage Site accreditation is judged on the treatment of the site's historic features and the standard of conservation.

The Civic Trust is an independent national charity founded in 1957. It works with people to promote thriving towns and villages, developing partnerships between communities, government and business to deliver regeneration and local improvement.

Civic Trust contacts: Caroline Williams, 0151 231 6903 cwilliams@civictrust.org.uk , Sarah Egerton, 07811 726534 segerton@civictrust.org.uk