A record number of parks and open spaces in Watford have received a Green Flag award this year.
The 17 green spaces to be awarded the status in the town is more than other district in Hertfordshire.
The Green Flag certificate acknowledge areas with the highest possible environmental, maintenance and visitor standards.
This year Garston Park, King George V Playing Fields, Lea Farm Recreation Ground, Oxhey Activity Park, and Oxhey Grange/Watford Heath have joined the growing list of green spaces to be honoured.
Watford mayor Peter Taylor said: "When I speak to residents, many of them tell me that our fantastic parks and green spaces are one of the things they like most about Watford.
"That’s why I’m pleased that we’ve got the highest number of green flags in Hertfordshire, and one of the highest in the country."
Cassiobury Park, Callowland Recreation Ground, Cheslyn House and Gardens, Goodwood Recreation Ground, Harwoods Recreation Ground, North Watford Cemetery, Orchard Park, Oxhey Park, Paddock Road Allotments, St Mary’s Churchyard, Waterfields Recreation Ground and Woodside Playing Fields are the other open spaces to have been awarded this year.
Darren Harding, senior contract manager at Veolia said: "We are absolutely delighted to have retained the 12 Green Flags and be awarded a further five making the grand total 17. The awards are so important for recognising the value of our parks and green spaces to both biodiversity and people’s health and well-being."
In Three Rivers district, Rickmansworth Aquadrome, Chorleywood House Estate, South Oxhey Playing Fields and Leavesden Country Park all retained Green Flag status.
In addition, Leavesden Country Park has achieved the Green Heritage Site Accreditation –the first park in Three Rivers to do so.
Cllr Chris Lloyd, lead member for leisure, said: "I would like to thank all the council staff who have made achieving Green Flag status possible. I would recommend residents who have not visited to do so. I enjoy using all four parks."
In Hertsmere, King George Recreation Ground in Bushey, Bushey Rose Garden, Mary Forsdyke Garden & Warren Lake in Bushey Heath, Oakmere Park and Parkfield in Potters Bar, and Aberford Park in Borehamwood have received a Green Flag.
It is the 23rd year in a row King George Rec Ground has been given the honour.
Bushey Rose Garden has also achieved the Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, for the management of its historic features, while Fishers Field Nature Reserve in Bushey has received a special Green Flag Community Award for the thirteenth time in recognition of work carried out by local volunteers who manage the site in partnership with the council.
The Green Flag award is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
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