Preston City Council has today announced that six local parks have won Green Flag Awards.

Green Flag included Ashton Park, Avenham and Miller Parks, Fishwick Bottoms, Haslam Park, Moor Park and Winckley Square Gardens in its list of 2,127 winners.

The awards scheme, celebrating its Silver Jubilee, is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

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Councillor Robert Boswell, a cabinet member for environment and community safety at Preston City Council, said: “We are absolutely delighted to yet again receive awards as part of the Green Flag Awards Scheme here in Preston.

“We know how much quality green spaces matter to residents and visitors, especially during the pandemic when our parks offered a sanctuary to residents during lockdown. The awards celebrate the dedication that goes into maintaining Preston’s parks and green spaces to such a high standard. 

“It’s great recognition for all the hard work by park rangers, gardeners, staff, volunteers and friends groups to keep all our parks and open spaces looking at their best all year round.”

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The Friends of Haslam Park received the Green Flag Community Award for their volunteer management of the sensory and rose gardens and the local nature reserve.

Winckley Square Gardens has achieved the much-coveted Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, for managing its historic features.

Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making the parks in Preston worthy of a Green Flag Award.”

“To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers. They do so much to ensure the parks’ high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and that they are places that support people to live healthy lives.”

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The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces.

It sets the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and the world.

A full list of winners is available at https://www.greenflagaward.org/

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