Three parks in South Lanarkshire have been presented with a prestigious Green Flag Award.
The accolade, which has been awarded to Strathaven Park, Cambuslang Park and Castlebank Park in Lanark, acknowledges quality green open spaces across the country that help to boost our nation's health and wellbeing.
The international Green Flag Award is administered in Scotland by Keep Scotland Beautiful and acts as a benchmark for recreational outdoor space.
It celebrates well maintained parks and supports the opportunities that they provide to enable exercise, improve mental wellbeing and provide safe areas for play – something that has been particularly important to everyone over the last couple of years.
Chairman of South Lanarkshire Council's community and enterprise resources committee, Councillor Robert Brown, said: “I am delighted that these three parks have been recognised again this year.
“As always winning these awards is all down to the council’s extremely hard working grounds staff and the partnerships they have developed over many years with each park’s local community groups.
“Ensuring the parks are presented in such great condition for the local community to enjoy is a true testament to all their efforts and the imagination and inspiration that it takes to continue to bring exciting new elements to the parks time and time again.
“Green spaces are vital for sustaining good communities and these parks exemplify everything that make them deserving once again of their Green Flag status.”
Jamie Ormiston , beaches and parks officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, added: “I would like to congratulate all of Scotland’s award-winning parks.
"Receiving this prestigious international benchmark recognises all the hard work that has gone into maintaining and managing these precious green open spaces.
“As the only accreditation for park management of its kind in Scotland, we have supported local authority teams, land managers and communities across Scotland to drive up environmental standards at many of our parks and open spaces for residents and visitors alike.
“Parks attract a diverse range of visitors, all of whom look for different facilities and have different expectations.
"The Green Flag Award, and the collective expertise of managers and communities across Scotland, drives improvements through a framework which supports the management of our environment, our wildlife and the people who visit.
“Scotland’s parks and open spaces attract thousands of visitors every year and I’d encourage everyone to #RespectProtectEnjoy them this summer.”
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