The Bancroft Gardens & Recreation Ground named as amongst the best in Britain

More parks and green spaces than ever will be flying the Green Flag Award this year – more than 1,582 across the UK.

The Bancroft Gardens and Recreation Ground in Stratford-upon-Avon are amongst the very best in the UK – and that's official!

Stratford's main green spaces are among a record-breaking 1,582 parks and green spaces that will today receive a prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space.

The award recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.

Cllr Mike Brain, Technical Services Portfolio says: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award from Keep Britain Tidy.  Given the volume of residents and visitors that use these sites throughout the year, it is always a challenge to ensure that they are kept to the highest possible standard.  This National Award recognises and highlights that people in Stratford-upon-Avon are benefitting from a green space of the very highest quality."

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. 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."

The announcement of this year's Award winners comes in the same week that thousands of people up and down the country are enjoying Love Parks Week (July 24 to August 2), an annual celebration of our country's fantastic green spaces and the community groups that bring them to life.

• A full list of Green Flag Award and Green Flag Community Award winners is available here http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/greenflagawards2015/2334
  
  
• The Green Flag Awards Scheme (http://greenflagaward.org/) is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Department of Communities and Local Government, in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens and the National Housing Federation.
  
  
• Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity. We inspire people to be litter-free, to waste less and to live more. We are run programmes including Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/ Seaside Awards for beaches. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, our programmes and campaigns visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.
  
  
• 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 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.