Today, Wyre Council is celebrating after receiving five Green Flag Awards for Poulton's Vicarage Park and Hawthorne Park, Wyre Estuary Country Park and Memorial Park and The Mount in Fleetwood.
These sites are five of the 2,250 in the UK to achieve the award, which is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
The news that these parks have met the standards required for the accreditation is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space so that visitors and residents alike can enjoy it.
Councillor Simon Bridge, Portfolio Holder for Street Scene, Parks and Open Spaces at Wyre Council, comments: “Wyre continues to shine through its outstanding parks and open spaces and receiving five Green Flag Awards again is a truly remarkable achievement. These awards are a reflection of the year-round dedication of our staff and the incredible efforts of our volunteers, who work with care to create welcoming, well-maintained places for everyone to enjoy.
"Spending time in nature is vital for our wellbeing, it helps reduce stress, encourages physical activity and brings people together. Our green spaces are more than just beautiful landscapes, they are essential for healthier, happier communities. A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved."
Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved who have worked tirelessly to ensure that it achieves the high standards required for the Green Flag Award.
“Quality parks and green spaces make the country a heathier place to live and work in, and a stronger place in which to invest.
“Crucially, these parks and open spaces are vital for communities in Wyre to enjoy nature, and during the ongoing cost of living crisis it is a free and safe space for families to socialise. It also provides important opportunities for local people and visitors to reap the physical and mental health benefits of green space.”
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.