Today a record number of parks and green spaces collect a Green Flag Award and three of them are right here in our town.

Alexandra Park, Hastings Country Park and St Leonards Gardens are among green spaces in the UK have been recognised by the Green Flag Award Scheme as some of the very best in the world.

The local parks are among a record-breaking 1,883 UK parks and green spaces that will today receive a prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space.

This international award, now into its third decade, is a sign to the public that the spaces boast the highest possible environmental standards, are beautifully maintained and have excellent visitor facilities.

Councillor Colin Fitzgerald, lead councillor for the environment said this morning: “Our parks are fantastic places for all our residents and visitors to enjoy all year round. The council is extremely proud to again receive green flag awards for three outstanding parks in the town; St Leonards Gardens, Alexandra Park and Hastings Country Park.

“The awards recognise our parks are maintained to the highest standards in the UK.  I would like to thank the dedication and hard work of all our staff and contractors who make these parks the special places they are.”

Alexandra Park and St Leonards Gardens have also received the much coveted additional Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the management of the historic features.

International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme, with more Green Flags awarded this year than last year.

“Each flag honours the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the award scheme. We are proud to have so many wonderful green spaces in the UK for people to enjoy, and hope that next year, we award even more flags.”

The Green Flag Awards Scheme (http://greenflagaward.org/) is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.

Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity that aims to inspire people to be litter-free, to waste less and to live more. It runs programmes including Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/ Seaside Awards for beaches.

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 Award 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.