Millennium Green
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245 Millennium Greens exist in cities, towns and villages across England. Funded in part by the National Lottery via the Countryside Agency, they are permanent areas of green space for the benefit of local communities. Each one is different, as local people have had an input into the design of their green.
The project to create 250 Millennium Greens across the turn of the Millennium was started in 1996 and ended when the last Green was handed over to its own, local charitable trust in perpetuity.
Each trust now fundraises for and runs its own green, within the bounds of its trust deed, for the benefit of its local community. The aims of Millennium Greens, as stated in their trust deeds, are as follows:
+Make a substantial contribution to the life of the whole community
+Be able to be enjoyed by people of all ages and physical abilities.
+Be open and evident to visitors to the Locality as well as inhabitants.
+Be an attractive place for people to take air and exercise, meet others and pursue leisure activities and pastimes consistent with the shared enjoyment of the whole of the land.
+Include an area suitable for community events and celebrations.
+Include significant "natural" areas, where people can enjoy Nature and wildlife at first hand.
+Make a positive contribution to the local environment and respect the established character of the area.
+Remain safely and conveniently accessible from Inhabitants'* homes.
- The term "Inhabitants" refers to the Deed's special emphasis on the needs and interests of local people
[edit] Project Success and Legacy
The Millennium Greens scheme was one of many UK projects funded by the Millennium Commission using National Lottery money. It was intended to form part of the permanent legacy of the celebrations of the Turn of the Millennium.
The Countryside Agency considered the project such a success that it launched a follow-on project to continue creating locally-run public green areas called "Doorstep Greens" in 2001. This initiative is still running through the CA's successor, Natural England. Millennium Greens and Doorstep Greens have won numerous Green Flag Awards and Green Pennant Awards.
The Royal Mail celebrated the Millennium Green project in its People and Places stamps in the Millennium Collection in 2000.
[edit] The Future of Millennium Greens
The Greens were intended to last in perpetuity and, as such, each was set up with a trust deed including requirements to keep the land and have it available for access by the general public. As a charitable trust their maintenance is supported and controlled by the Charities Commission. Many Millennium Greens were established with formal links to other charities and official bodies. Their deeds enable them to work with commercial sponsors and, indeed a number of Greens have used sponsorship to further their aims.
