Bracknell

Three parks in Bracknell Forest have retained their prestigious Green Flags - showing they have met a national standard for quality parks and green spaces.

Pope's Meadow in Binfield has now been flying its Green Flag for five successive years and Westmorland Park has its third flag since 2003.

Sandhurst Memorial Park and Shepherd Meadows - a partnership between the Borough Council and Sandhurst Town Council which was the scheme's first joint winner three years ago - has achieved a Green Flag for a third successive year.

Although this year a record 423 flags have been awarded across the country by the Civic Trust - who run the Green Flag scheme, there were only five awarded in Berkshire.

The judges criteria include making the park a welcoming place; it should be healthy, safe, and secure; and be clean and well maintained. They also look at conservation and heritage, community involvement, marketing and management.

Since last year’s inspections, Bracknell Council’s parks and countryside officers have initiated a number of improvements including new signs and interpretation boards at Sandhurst, amended the management plans at all sites and undertaken ongoing landscape improvements.

Richard Walton, Parks and Countryside Manager, said: We are thrilled the hard work and ongoing improvements to our parks has been recognised by the Green Flag judges once again.

We are constantly looking at how we can continue to improve and enhance our parks and maintain them as places to be enjoyed by everybody.”

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Bracknell Leisure and Corporate Services, said: "The borough has an enviable range of parks, countryside and open spaces, and I am delighted the quality of our management and our parks is recognised by these awards.

"My thanks go to our staff, partners and the public in making these successes possible.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council