Six of Sunderland’s award-winning parks are flying the prestigious Green Flags for the fourth year in a row.
Herrington Country Park, Hetton Lyons Country Park, Mowbray, Barnes, Roker and Usworth have gained their Green Flag once again.
Parks are judged on whether they are a welcoming park, healthy, safe and secure, clean and well maintained, as well as their sustainability, conservation and heritage, community involvement, marketing and promotion and how well managed they are.
Portfolio holder for city services, councillor Michael Mordey said: “The national recognition of our parks which the Green Flag Awards provide are a great accolade for the city, and testament to the hard work of everyone involved in their maintenance and upkeep.
“We’re proud to continually provide first class green spaces for everyone to enjoy, and are determined to maintain these standards as best we can.
“Although this task is becoming harder and harder each year as the council deals with the consequences of year on year cuts to our funding.”
Cllr Michael Mordey added: “The groups and friends of our parks as well as the public who enjoy the open spaces, all have a role to play.
“It’s not just the council staff who work year round to maintain these high standards.”
Councillor Rebecca Atkinson is chair of voluntary group, The Friends of Barnes Park.
“We’re delighted that the Green Flag will be flying again over Barnes Park and others across our city.
“Our friends groups and other voluntary partners work so hard to help us to achieve these awards, and these flags belong everyone in the community.
“They help show everyone that we have parks to be proud, places where people can go with their families to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful surroundings,” she said.
The Green Flags awards is now in it’s twentieth year and is organised by national environmental and conservation groups led by Keep Britain Tidy to recognise and celebrate outstanding parks and green spaces across the country.
International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd added: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme.
“All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”