Seal of approval for South Park and West Park

South Park and West Park have received coveted Green Flag awards, the international quality mark for green spaces.

After two years that have seen our parks and green spaces play a vital role for people through lockdowns as places to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely, the news that South Park and West Park have once again achieved the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that make the green space a great space that everyone can enjoy.

South Park is a Victorian Park with a lake, aviaries, bowling green, café, play areas, skate park and bandstand.  It is host to a range of events and activities such as parkrun and junior parkrun, proms in the park and fitness clubs. South Park was the first park in Darlington and this year marks its 16th year as a Green Flag Award winner.

Officially opened in 2005, West Park was the first new park in Darlington in 100 years and this is its eighth Green Flag Award. It is a modern park with a fusion of art and wild open space. There are stone sculptures and poetry that are integrated with the natural beauty of the wildflower meadows, woods and wetlands. 

Councillor Andy Keir, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for local services, said: “We’re thrilled that once again South Park and West Park have achieved Green Flag Award status. This award is vey much down to the efforts of our staff, Friends groups and the many other volunteers who work so hard to look after our parks so they can be enjoyed by all.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Accreditation Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making South Park and West Park worthy of a Green Flag Award.

“The two parks provide vital green space for the community in Darlington. This award is testament to all the hard work of staff and volunteers, who do so much to ensure they maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, 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.

A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available here.