BCP Council has received 23 Green Flag awards and Dorset Council is celebrating five Green Flag awards.

Cllr Mark Anderson, BCP Cabinet portfolio holder for Environment, Cleansing and Waste commented, “Parks and open spaces are vital to our everyday health and wellbeing, especially this year during lockdown when many people didn’t have access to a back garden, so it’s great that our hard-working parks teams are getting the recognition they deserve.

“We are committed to protecting and enhancing our outstanding natural environment and preserving it for generations to come and these awards highlight our dedication in making our parks and open spaces enjoyable for all.”

In the Dorset Council area, Avon Heath Country Park, near Ringwood, Durlston Country Park in Swanage, Thorncombe Woods near Dorchester and the Milldown and Stour Meadows in Blandford have all been recognised by the Green Flag Award scheme.

Cllr Ray Bryan, portfolio holder at Dorset Council for Highways, Travel and Environment, said, “This year particularly we have been reminded how important our Greenspaces are for health and well-being, when other activities have been curtailed. We are incredibly fortunate to have such high-quality green spaces to visit. Well done to all the employees who helped achieve these high standards.”

Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton applauded both BCP Council and Dorset Council for the “dedication and hard work of parks staff and volunteers” that have achieved the highest international standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.

In addition to the Green Flag awards in the BCP Council area, both Hengistbury Head and Upton Country Park have also achieved the much-coveted Green Heritage Site Accreditation. The accreditation is supported by Historic England.