PHOTOS: Forty-One Sussex Parks Awarded Green Flag Status

Forty-one parks across Sussex have been awarded Green Flag status this year, with three of those given Green Flag Accreditation.

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The award recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces and sets the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Each park must be deemed to be a welcoming place, healthy, safe and secure, well maintained and clean, while also meeting criteria such as sustainability, conservation and heritage and have community involvement.

Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status with volunteer judges deciding on each successful site.

Field Place, Worthing

This year has seen 2,216 parks honoured – the largest number since the scheme began 27 years ago.

Hastings Borough Council was 'delighted' to learn that Alexandra Park, Hastings Country Park, and St Leonards Gardens have retained Green Flag status for another year.

Cllr Ali Roark, lead for Environment at Hastings Borough Council, said:

"Our borough’s parks and gardens provide a vital space for people to exercise, socialise and for our children to play, and we are delighted that Alexandra Park, Hastings Country Park and St Leonards Gardens have achieved Green Flag Awards for another year.

“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in helping us achieve this, from the council’s Parks team to local volunteers and park users who take their litter home and report issues to us. This fantastic achievement is a testament to all your hard work and dedication.”

Eight green spaces in Adur and Worthing have again been awarded the Green Flag for their successful management, great quality and achieving the highest environmental standards.

Lancing Manor Park

In Adur, Lancing Manor, Buckingham Park, Lancing Ring and Shoreham Beach have all once again retained the honour, while Beach House Park, Field Place, Highdown Gardens and Marine Gardens in Worthing won the coveted award again. 

Highdown Gardens, Worthing

Shoreham Beach

Cllr Emma Evans, Adur District Council's Cabinet Member for the Environment, said:

“It's brilliant news that four of our treasured open spaces have been recognised for the distinguished Green Flag award.

“Our green spaces are so valuable to our communities, and this award is evidence of all the hard work our teams and fabulous volunteers have invested into our parks.”

Cllr Vicki Wells, Worthing Borough Council's Cabinet Member for the Environment, added: 

“The emotional impact of the pandemic on mental wellbeing can’t be underestimated.

“Combined with the urgency to support biodiversity and nature during the ecological and climate crisis, Council teams and local volunteers in Worthing’s parks and open spaces go from strength to strength.

Beach House Park, Worthing

“These amazing people are crucial to help maintain these wonderful green spaces. Importantly, they also support each other and nature for the benefit of all Worthing residents and visitors.

Lancing Ring

“A Green Flag award reflects this passion, dedication and commitment and I applaud each and every group for the incredible results. I thoroughly recommend a trip to Highdown Gardens, Marine Gardens, Field Place and Beach House Park to enjoy some quality time with nature.”

Arun Council has also praised the hard work of the its Greenspace Team, gardeners from the council’s contractors, Tivoli Group Limited, and support from a dedicated team of volunteers and other local contractors.

Old Rectory Gardens

Green Flags will continue to fly in Brookfield Park, Mewsbrook Park and Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton, Old Rectory Gardens in Felpham, Marine Park Gardens in Aldwick and Hotham Park in Bognor Regis.

Marine Gardens

Councillor Sue Wallsgrove, Chair of the Environment Committee at Arun District Council, thanked everyone involved in maintaining the parks to such a high standard.

She said:

“We’re delighted to have retained our six Green Flags in these wonderful settings across the district. So much hard work goes into keeping these parks beautifully maintained and we are so grateful to everybody who rolls up their sleeves and gets involved.

Norfolk Gardens

“As a council, we have been working extremely hard to make all of our parks as beautiful as ever, with a focus on sustainability as we strive to meet our commitment to become carbon-neutral by 2030. For a while now, we have selected plants that not only look great, but that encourage wildlife and nature to prosper, and that come back every year, reducing labour and the need for watering.

Hotham Park

“We would encourage residents and visitors to spend time in our parks to not only appreciate their beauty, but to really reap the benefits of the vital role our green spaces play in our health and wellbeing.”

Brookfield Park