Some of Dorset's beautiful parks have been recognised amongst the country's best.

Greenhill Gardens, Sandsfoot Gardens, Hardy’s Birthplace, Dorchester Borough Gardens and Thorncombe Woods are among the recipients of the Green Flag Awards, an international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Also receiving the award in the local area was Avon Heath Country Park, Durlston Country Park, Moors Valley Country Park, Stour Meadows and The Milldown.

Cllr Ann Weaving, Mayor of Weymouth, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Greenhill Gardens and Sandsfoot Gardens have been awarded Green Flag status once again.

“They are both such beautiful places that boast wonderful views of the Dorset coastline. Congratulations to the team at Weymouth Town Council for all the hard work that has taken place to help us win the Green Flag Awards.”

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “This is a fantastic result, and a reminder of how important our country parks and greenspaces are to the public and visitors to Dorset - They are places where we can all enjoy wildlife, landscape, outdoor activities of Dorset or just catching up with friends in the fresh air.

“Winning these awards is recognition of what superb parks we have and a way of saying thank you to the hard-working employees and volunteers that maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across not only the United Kingdom, but around the world.

Paul Todd, Keep Britain Tidy’s Accreditation Manager, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making these parks worthy of a Green Flag Award.

“Country parks are vital green spaces for the community in Dorset. This award is testament to all the hard work of staff and volunteers, who do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

A full list of winners can be found here: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/sites/default/files/2022%20GFA%20UK%20winners%20list.pdf