Kirkstall Abbey and Pudsey Park are among seven parks and green spaces in Leeds to scoop the prestigious Green Flag Award.
The sites have been recognised amongst the best parks in the country, with the Green Flag Award denoting clean, safe and well-maintained spaces.
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom.
Both Pudsey Park and Kirkstall Abbey are operated by the council, but also benefit from volunteers who help with planting and maintenance, including Friends of Kirkstall Abbey Park and Pudsey in Bloom.
A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available here, and in Leeds also include including Golden Acre Park, Middleton Park, Otley Chevin Forest Park, Roundhay Park and Temple Newsam Estate.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “It is fantastic news that seven of our parks across Leeds have once again been recognised as being among the best in the country and it is a real testament to the council’s fantastic parks service who go above and beyond in ensuring our green spaces are clean, safe well-maintained spaces accessible to everyone.
“We are very focussed on continuing with our ambition of ensuring that all communities in Leeds have access to good quality green space and maintaining our current greenspaces is vital to that.”
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd MBE said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at these sites in achieving the Green Flag Award.
“Golden Acre Park, Kirkstall Abbey, Middleton Park, Otley Chevin Forest Park, Pudsey Park, Roundhay Park and Temple Newsam Estate are vital green spaces for the community in Leeds, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles.
“The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that they maintain the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”
Find it unbelievable (NOT) that the city council are hijacking praise for the hard work done by the volunteers in Pudsey who come rain, snow or shine are out doing Pudsey proud.Whilst they have closed two of the most visited attractions in the park(animal house/greenhouse)which brought income into Pudsey, parents and children purchasing food,drink etc.STILL CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHO THE LUCKY RECIPIENTS ARE WHO TAKE OVER THESE LUCRATIVE SITES.