Delapre Park in Northampton has won a national award for being one of the cleanest green spaces in the UK.
The park is one of a 1,447 parks and green spaces that has received a Green Flag Award from the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.
A Green Flag award signifies a park is “beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.”
Councillor Mike Hallam (Con, Parklands), Northampton Borough Council cabinet member for the environment, said: “We are so happy to receive a Green Flag Award for Delapre Park for the first time.
“This Award is a real achievement for everyone who works so hard to care for the park. It shows that local people and visitors are benefitting from a green space of the very highest quality.
“Earlier this month around 14,000 people attended the park for a brilliant weekend of headlining concerts that ran over three nights. The feedback has been fantastic and people were blown away by the setting. This award is the icing on the cake. Today is the start of Love Parks Week and I can’t think of any better news to kick-start the week.”
Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said: “We are thrilled to announce yet another record-breaking year for Green Flag Award parks and green spaces.
“A Green Flag Award provides national recognition for the hard work and dedication of all the parks managers, staff and volunteers who have helped to create these fantastic places for all to enjoy.
“Quality green spaces are absolutely essential to happy, healthy communities. They are fundamental to our quality of life, whether in cities, towns or villages. That is why it is so significant that we have given out more awards than ever before.”
Northampton’s Abington Park also applied for a Green Flag Award, but was unsuccessful.
Councillor Hallam said: “Getting a Green Flag for Delapre Park is great, but we are disappointed that Abington Park missed out this time. We will be working with the Friends of Abington Park to go through the judges’ feedback to see where we can improve for next year.”