The best parish green spaces celebrate Green Flag Award

A record number of local (parish and town) council parks and green spaces will be flying the Green Flag Award this year – around 30 in England.

The Green Flag Award scheme, which is managed by Keep Britain Tidy, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

In total, 1,686 parks, cemeteries, universities, shopping centres and community gardens have met the high standard needed to receive the Green Flag Award or Green Flag Community Award, the quality marks for parks and green spaces.

More parks and green spaces than ever will be flying the Green Flag Award this year - more than 1,600 across the UK.

The Green Flag Awards are judged by an army of more than 700 green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement.

The announcement of the 2016 Award winners came in the same week that thousands of people up and down the country are celebrating Love Parks Week (July 15 to 24), an annual celebration of our country's fantastic green spaces and the community groups that bring them to life.

Communities Minister, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth said: "Parks and green spaces are vitally important to the health and the emotional wellbeing of our communities.

"That's why we're celebrating 20 years of the Green Flag Awards, which continue to go from strength to strength in recognising the significant role that parks play.

"More than 80 government funded pocket parks are starting to spring up across the country and I hope they apply to fly the Green Flag once they're in full bloom."

Cllr Ken Browse, chairman of NALC said, “We all have a favourite park, whether it’s our local green space or a special park we’ll travel miles to visit. It is so wonderful to see so many parish and town councils recognised for all their hard work in protecting and maintaining these spaces for the benefit of communities.”

Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: "We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme, especially as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Awards.

"All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award."

Green Flag Award – Local (parish and town) council 2016 Winners:Green Flag Community Awards 2016:

• Sherwood Avenue Park, Newark Town Council, East Midlands

• Cutts Close, Oakham Town Council, East Midlands

• Hall Park, Rushden Town Council, East Midlands

• Grove House Gardens, Dunstable Town Council, East of England

• Priory Gardens, Dunstable Town Council, East of England

• Harpenden Common, Harpenden Town Council, East of England

• Pages Park, Leighton-Linslade Town Council, East of England

• Parson's Close Recreation Ground Leighton-Linslade Town Council East of England

• Vandyke Road Cemetery, Leighton-Linslade Town Council, East of England

• King George V Playing Field, Rayleigh Town Council, East of England

• Greenwood Park, St Stephen Parish Council, East of England

• Dean Bank Park, Ferryhill Town Council, North East

• Duncombe Cemetery, Ferryhill Town Council, North East

• Mainsforth Sports Complex, Ferryhill Town Council, North East

• Surtees Doorstep Green, Ferryhill Town Council, North East

• Horden Memorial Park, Horden Parish Council, North East

• Horden Welfare Park, Horden Parish Council, North East

• Seaham Town Park, Seaham Town Council, North East

• Silloth Green, Silloth Town Council, North West

• Sandhurst Memorial Park & Shepherd Meadows, Bracknell Forest Borough Council & Sandhurst Town Council, South East

• Jocks Lane, Bracknell Town Council, South

• East Albert Road Cemetery & War Memorial Garden, Hedge End Town Council, South East

• Swanley Park, Swanley Town Council, South East

• Carnation Hall, Winkfield Parish Council, South East

• Locks Ride Recreation Ground, Winkfield Parish Council, South East

• Hillworrth Park, Devizes Town Council, South West

Green Flag Community Awards 2016:

• Jersey Farm Woodland Park, Sandridge Parish Council, East of England

• Watery Lanes Allotments and Leisure Gardens, Codsall Parish Council, West Midlands

• Darwin Gardens Millennium Green, Ilkley Parish Council, Yorkshire & Humberside