SOUTHEND’S beautiful parks and gardens are unfurling the flag of success after notching up an impressive series of honours celebrating the best green spaces in the UK. 

The coveted Green Flag accolade has been handed to nine parks and gardens across the city.

Priory Park, Chalkwell Park, Southchurch Park, Southchurch Hall Gardens, Leigh Library Gardens, Shoebury Park, Belfairs Park, Sutton Road Cemetery and Southend Crematorium, as well as Shoebury Common North, have all achieved the Green Flag accolade.

The Green Flag awards recognise well maintained parks and green spaces across the country.

Nationally a record-breaking 2,216 UK parks and green spaces have been awarded the prestigious award and nine are in Southend.

The parks team in Southend has thanked all community groups and visitors for helping keep Southend’s parks in top shape, by putting litter in the bin and taking care of the equipment and facilities of the parks.

Southend resident, Lesley Taylor, 59, said it shows “Southend is more than just a seafront city”.

She added: “I am very proud to hear that nine of our parks have been given an award.

“It is fantastic news. It also means we aren’t just a seafront city, and that we have so much more to offer.

“It encourages families to visit and is great for kids and adults alike.”

Regular visitor to Southend, Kirsty Cooke, 46, added: "It is great to hear that nine parks in Southend have been awarded this. 

"Parks are valuable green spaces for children to play in and people to walk their dogs, especially if they live in a flat and have no garden." 

Last year, seven parks and green spaces in Southend were awarded the Green Flag with Priory Park and Shoebury Common North being added this year.

Paul Todd MBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award scheme manager, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in Southend in achieving nine Green Flag awards.

“Parks are a vital green space for the community in Southend-on-Sea, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles.

“The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”

Meg Davidson, Tory Southend councillor responsible for environment, added: “The council and our residents are passionate about the green spaces in our city, and so to increase the record number of Green Flag parks this year is testament to the hard work of our parks team and volunteer groups, who work tirelessly year-round.”