The green flag flies over Birmingham

City has 16 of Britain’s best green spaces.

More parks and green spaces than ever will be flying the Green Flag Award this year – more than 1,582 across the UK.

Across Birmingham 14 parks and two crematoria have retained their prestigious Green Flag status, which shows they are some of the very best in the UK – and that’s official.

Eastside City Park, Perry Hall Playing Fields and Victoria Common, in Northfield, are among a record-breaking 1,582 parks and green spaces that will today receive a prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space.

The award recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.

Darren Share, Head of Parks for Birmingham City Council, said: “We are delighted that 16 of our parks and crematoria have retained their Green Flag status, in recognition that these amenities are of the highest quality, providing vital access to green spaces across the city.

“Birmingham’s parks and green spaces are part of what makes our city great as they are absolutely vital to happy, healthy communities and our quality of life. These awards also reflect the hard work that officers, community groups and volunteers do all year round, to keep them well maintained for the city’s residents and visitors.”

Paul Todd, International Green Flag Award scheme manager, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme. All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

The announcement of this year’s award winners comes in the same week that thousands of people up and down the country are enjoying Love Parks Week (July 24 to August 2), an annual celebration of our country’s fantastic green spaces and the community groups that bring them to life.

A full list of Green Flag Award and Green Flag Community Award winners is available here www.keepbritaintidy.org/greenflagawards2015/2334