A BORDERS park is flying the green flag after it received national recognition.
Hawick's Wilton Lodge Park has once again been bestowed as one of the country’s top green spaces with a Green Flag Award for 2024.
The awards celebrate exceptional examples of parks and greenspaces and supports the opportunities that they provide to enable exercise, improve mental well-being and provide safe areas for play.
Run by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, the awards act as a benchmark for recreational outdoor space.
It is the sixth year that the park has been recognised with a Green Flag Award, demonstrating its consistently high standards of maintenance and cleanliness.
The park achieved the highest rating possible in all 18 categories which were assessed, impressing the judges for its dedication to retaining and restoring many historical features throughout the park.
It was also commended for its general cleanliness and efforts to make a positive impact to the local environment with the addition of wildflower areas for the promotion of key pollinators.
In total 80 parks in Scotland were awarded a Green Flag for 2024.
Councillor John Greenwell, the council's portfolio holder for roads and public space development, said: “A Green Flag Award win is a prestigious accolade reserved for a very small number of parks and greenspaces every year.
“For Wilton Lodge Park to be recognised yet again is a wonderful achievement and I would like to congratulate all the various volunteers and council staff who are involved at the park for their hard work.
“Parks like these which are so meticulously maintained are a superb community facility and play such an important part in helping encourage people to enjoy the outdoors.”
James Ormiston, training and accreditation co-ordinator at Keep Scotland Beautiful, added: “Congratulations to all of our winners across Scotland. Receiving this prestigious award recognises all the hard work that has gone into maintaining and managing these precious green open spaces.
“What is most pleasing is the number of consecutive winners we have once again, showcasing the parks’ longevity and desire to continually be a welcoming and environmentally friendly place for all.
“Scotland has a biodiversity crisis, but these green spaces provide a space for everyone to reconnect with nature and I encourage everyone to do just that this year.
“Green spaces are so important for our physical and mental well-being and it’s fantastic to see such a wide range of parks and green spaces across the entire length of the country.”
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