Highfield Park and Devonshire Rock Gardens awarded the coveted Green Flag Award

Two parks in Blackpool are raising their prestigious Green Flag Award after achieving international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Blackpool Council is celebrating after receiving a Green Flag Award for Highfield Road Park and Devonshire Rock Gardens.

The news that Highfield Road Park and Devonshire Rock Gardens have achieved the accreditation - the international quality mark for parks and green spaces - is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space so that visitors and residents alike can enjoy it.

Cllr Jane Hugo, Cabinet Member with responsibilities for parks and green open spaces said: “To see that two Blackpool parks have been awarded Green Flag status is incredible, parks are a vital part of our communities and knowing that we are home to two of the best in the country is something we should all celebrate and be part of. I’d particularly like to thank all the hard work put in by the volunteers of the “friends of groups”.

''They do a great job adding value to the brilliant efforts of Enveco and our parks department.   I am looking forward to seeing people spend time in these parks over summer and beyond.”

Jez Evans, Operations Director from Enveco NW Environmental Services said “We are extremely proud to celebrate with our two Green Flag park winners, it is a great achievement gaining this prestigious award. Many congratulations to all involved.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Highfield Road Park and Devonshire Road Rock Gardens on achieving a Green Flag Award.

Highfield Road Park and Devonshire Rock Gardens are vital green spaces for communities in Blackpool to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.

“We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement. 

“It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”

Highfield Park was described as very welcoming by judges with feedback noting, ‘On visiting, all three entrances were inspected and all made you feel you were entering a safe and cared-for park ‘

Devonshire Rock Garden’s judging feedback wrote that they ‘thoroughly enjoyed visiting the site and knew as soon as we arrived that it had the makings of a Green Flag Award winning park’.

The parks are maintained in collaboration with Blackpool Council’s Parks and Open Green Spaces Services, Enveco NE Environmental Services and Friends of Groups who volunteer regularly to ensure the parks are a safe, inviting space for all.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.