Two Darlington parks awarded the coveted Green Flag Award

Two parks in Darlington are raising prestigious Green Flag Awards after achieving the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

The council is celebrating after receiving a Green Flag Award for both South Park and West Park.

The news that the two parks have achieved the accreditation - the international quality mark for parks and green spaces - is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space so that visitors and residents alike can enjoy it.

It also came on the day two judges visited the town for the summer round of judging for Northumbria in Bloom, which included a tour of some of our parks and meeting local businesses, our parks team and volunteers.

Councillor Libby McCollom, cabinet member for local services said: “We’re delighted that South Park and West Park have once again secured Green Flag Awards and I’d like to thank our staff, Friends groups, West Park Levy Trust and the many volunteers who give their time to help keep our parks looking their best.

“These awards represent well-deserved recognition for all their hard work – we simply couldn’t do it without you!”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at South Park and West Park on achieving a Green Flag Award.

“They are vital green spaces for communities in Darlington to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provide important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.

“We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that they maintain the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement. 

“It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”

South Park is a Victorian Park with a lake, aviaries, bowling green, café, play areas, skate park and bandstand.  It is host to a range of events and activities such as charity fun runs, proms in the park and fitness clubs.  South Park was the first park in Darlington and this year marks its 18th year as a Green Flag Award winner.

Officially opened in 2005, West Park was the first new park in Darlington in 100 years and this is its tenth Green Flag Award. It is a modern park with a fusion of art and wild open space.  There are stone sculptures and poetry that are integrated with the natural beauty of the wildflower meadows, woods and wetlands. 

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Photo caption: Council staff, volunteers and Northumbria in Bloom judges with the flags in South Park.