Overview
- Keep Britain Tidy, which announced the winners on Tuesday, named a record 2,391 UK parks and green spaces that meet the Green Flag Award standard.
- The Green Flag scheme sets an international benchmark for parks and uses mystery-shop style inspections to judge cleanliness, safety, accessibility, biodiversity and visitor experience.
- Several councils celebrated first-time or returning awards after recent refurbishments, including Britannia Park in Rowley Regis following a £2.7 million makeover and Springfield Park in Liverpool earning Green Flag status for the first time.
- Paul Todd MBE urged targeted investment in under-served communities, saying better-funded parks improve wellbeing, reduce pressure on public services and help tackle stark inequalities in how safe and welcoming local green spaces feel.
- Local park teams and volunteer 'Friends' groups were widely credited for winning and keeping flags, and some sites also received Green Heritage or Community accreditations that recognise historic management and strong local stewardship.