PEOPLE'S FAVOURITE PARKS REVEALED

Green Flag Awards has announced the winners of the 2019 People’s Choice vote.

With more than 1,800 sites to choose from - all of which meet the standards demanded by the international Green Flag Award programme - the public have chosen their ten favourites.

Included in this year’s list of winners for the first time are Valentines Park, managed by Vision Redbridge, and Hollycroft Park, managed by Hinckley and Bosworth Council.

Paul Todd, Green Flag Award manager, said, “We know that parks matter to people and that receiving a Green Flag Award brings a real sense of achievement and pride to staff, volunteers and the community.

“The number of people that took the time to vote for their favourite park is testament to how much these spaces are valued and we congratulate this year’s top ten.”

Parks and Green Spaces Minister Viscount Younger said, “Britain’s parks and green spaces are peaceful havens for people of all ages - places to meet neighbours, find relaxation, to exercise and learn about nature and the environment.

“It is fantastic to see so many people support and cheer their favourite parks every year for the Green Flag People’s Choice Awards.

“These awards celebrate the dedication of all those in the community who work tirelessly to ensure the whole community can enjoy the best of what our parks have to offer. Thank you and congratulations to everyone behind this year's favourites.”

The ten winners of the 2019 People’s Choice Award are (in alphabetical order):

• Clifton Park - Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
• Elsecar Park and Local Reservoir Nature Reserve - Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
• Harlow Town Park - Harlow District Council
• Hollycroft Park - Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council
• Strathaven Park - South Lanarkshire Council
• University of Essex Wivenhoe Park - University of Essex
• Valentines Park - Vision Redbridge
• Victoria Park (Tower Hamlets) - London Borough of Tower Hamlets
• Victoria Park (Widnes) - Halton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Warley Woods - Warley Woods Community Trust

Leader of Hinckley & Bosworth Council Councillor Stuart Bray said: “Fantastic news, thank you to everyone who has voted for Hollycroft Park. To be recognised as one of the top ten favourite parks in the country rightly recognises the amazing contribution of our staff, the Friends of Hollycroft Park and all our volunteers and the visitors who make this park such a great place to visit at the heart of our community."

Councillor Jas Athwal, Leader of Redbridge Council, said: “It’s fantastic news that Valentines Park has been voted in the top ten favourite parks in the country. We are so fortunate to have so many beautiful green spaces and play parks all around the borough and I’m really pleased that our commitment to and continued investment in providing the very best parks for our residents to enjoy has been recognised once again.