NINE pretty parks and open spaces across Southend have been honoured with coveted Green Flag Awards - recognising them among the best in the country.

The Green Flag Award is a prestigious accreditation recognising the most well-maintained, safe, welcoming and conserved publicly accessible parks and green spaces in the UK.

Southend received the third highest number of these awards in the East of England, following Watford Borough Council and Chelmsford City Council.

The honour was given to:

  • Belfairs Park and Nature Reserve
  • Chalkwell Park
  • Leigh Library Gardens
  • Priory Park Southend
  • Shoebury Common North
  • Shoebury Park
  • Southchurch Hall Gardens
  • Southchurch Park
  • Sutton Road Cemetery and Southend Crematorium

Recognised - Chalkwell ParkRecognised - Chalkwell Park (Image: Clifford Leach)

 Outside of the council’s achievement, Garon Park also secured a Green Flag Award while Trust Links, based in Shoebury and Westcliff, received two Green Flag Community Awards.

Lydia Hyde, Labour cabinet member for climate, environment, and waste, said: “I am incredibly proud of our parks team for their passion, hard work, and dedication in ensuring our city continues to wave its nine Green Flags year after year.

“This achievement is especially poignant as two key team members are still recovering at home following a road collision earlier this year.

“The community’s support has been fantastic, and everyone has come together to maintain our beautiful parks.

“Our city offers a wonderful selection of parks and open spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.

“The Green Flag Awards highlight the quality of these spaces, which attract millions of visitors to Southend each year.”

These coveted flags will now be proudly displayed in the honoured parks.