Pollok Country Park
Pollok Country Park is a 146-hectare (361-acre) national park located in Glasgow, Scotland. It is Glasgow's only and largest national park with extensive forests and gardens providing a tranquil nature reserve for both visitors and wildlife.
This rural historic park was formerly part of the Old Pollok Estate, home to the Maxwell family for over 700 years. In 1966, Anne Maxwell Macdonald donated the land to estates, including Pollok House, to the Glasgow Corporation under the proviso that it remained a public park. The park also has a purpose-built building to house the large, eclectic collection of art and antiques by shipping magnate William Burrell, who dedicated the Burrell Collection to the City of Glasgow after he died.
In 2007, after beating competition from parks in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, and Sweden, Pollok Country Park was named Britain's Best Park. It then went on to be named Europe's Best Park in 2009. Pollok Country Park is the only park that has successfully maintained its annual Blue Flag Award in 2016 since its first win in 2012. The Blue Flag Award is the national benchmark for parks and quality green space. Even so, the park is thought to have been underutilized with plans outlined to encourage more visitors in 2019.
In short, Pollok Country Park:
- Pollok Country Park is Glasgow's only and largest national park with 146 hectares (361 acres), located in Glasgow, Scotland.
- This rural historic park was formerly part of the Old Pollok Estate, home to the Maxwell family for over 700 years.
- In 2007, Pollok Country Park was named Britain's Best Park, and Europe's Best Park in 2009.
- It successfully maintained the Blue Flag Award from 2012 to 2016 for its quality park and green space standards.
