Southend-on-Sea City Council’s Parks Team is once again celebrating as their hard work has led to nine local parks achieving a national Green Flag Award.
Nationally a record-breaking 2,216 UK parks and green spaces have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award, and included are Priory Park, Chalkwell Park, Southchurch Park, Southchurch Hall Gardens, Leigh Library Gardens, Shoebury Park, Belfairs Park, Sutton Road Cemetery & Southend Crematorium and Shoebury Common North.
The Parks Team would like to thank all community groups and visitors for helping keep Southend’s parks in top shape, by putting litter in the bin and taking care of the equipment and facilities of the parks.
Cllr Meg Davidson, cabinet member for environment, said: “Across the City we have a fantastic offering of parks and open spaces, and the Green Flags really show the quality offer available to residents and the millions of visitors we welcome each year to Southend-on-Sea.
“It’s great to see Priory Park is back flying the green flag this year. Additionally, Shoebury Common North has successfully achieved its first green flag, with only being entered for the first time this year, really reflecting a big effort across the whole Parks Team – Well done!
“The council and our residents are passionate about the green spaces in our City, and so to increase the record number of Green Flag parks this year is testament to the hard work of our parks team and volunteer groups, who work tirelessly year-round.
The Green Flag Awards recognise well maintained parks and green spaces across the country, and Southend’s parks have featured in the awards frequently over the past few years, showing off the spectacular green spaces available to residents and visitors throughout the year.
Paul Todd MBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award scheme manager, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in Southend-on-Sea in achieving nine Green Flag Awards.
“Parks are a vital green space for the community in Southend-on-Sea, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available here.
Photographs can be found on the Council Flickr Page.
