Keep Britain Tidy have announced that Tessier Park in St. Marychurch and Youngs Park in Paignton have once again retained their green flags.

The two parks are among a record-breaking 1,476 parks and green spaces that have received a prestigious Green Flag Award.

The award, handed out by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.

The award is the eighth in a row for the small and beautiful Tessier Gardens. The gardens were a gift to the town in 1933 by Mrs H.A. Tessier and have been continuously improved following consultation with residents. Friends of Tessier Gardens aim this year is to transform the gardens into a Dementia friendly garden and celebrate the 80th anniversary of the gardens being gifted to the town.

This is the fifth award in a row for Youngs Park. The Youngs Park People and the Goodrington Action Group continue to work in the park to keep it up to this high standard. This includes many musical events taking place in the park’s bandstand and the conservation area continually being improved.

Executive Lead for Safer Communities, Highways, Environment and Sport, Cllr Robert Excell, said: "Once again this is an amazing achievement and really speaks volumes about the hard work that has been put in by members of staff, local residents and Friends Groups to create clean, safe and green environments that people can enjoy and be proud of.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for their dedication and hard work. Maintaining our parks and gardens has never been so important as the recession bites and people look closer to home to enjoy the outdoors."

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: “We are delighted to announce yet another record-breaking year for Green Flag Award parks and green spaces.

“A Green Flag Award provides national recognition for all the parks managers, staff and volunteers who, through their dedication and hard work, have helped to create these fantastic places for everyone to enjoy.

“Quality green spaces are a vital resource for communities and that is why it is so significant that we have given out more awards than ever before.”

 

Notes to Editors:

Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity. We inspire people to be litter-free, to waste less and to live more. We are run programmes including Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/ Seaside Awards for beaches. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, our programmes and campaigns visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.

Keep Britain Tidy run the Green Flag Award scheme in the UK on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government. It is run in partnership with Keep Wales Tidy, Tidy Northern Ireland, Keep Scotland Beautiful, the National Housing Federation and the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens.

Any green space that is accessible to the public is eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award. Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status. A Green Flag Community Award recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups. Green Heritage Site accreditation is judged on the treatment of the site’s historic features and the standard of conservation. storic features and the standard of conservation.