Two parks scoop top accolade

The town’s Hotham Park and Aldwick’s Marine Park gardens are among the very best in the UK – and that is official.

The Arun District Council green spaces are among a record-breaking 1,447 parks and green spaces which received the prestigious Green Flag Award on Monday.

Arun’s chairman Terence Chapman said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the district and reflects the dedication and hard work of the Arun District Council parks team, our contractors, concessionaires and the committed parks volunteers and supporters without whom this would not have been possible.

“With the sunny weather we have been enjoying recently and the school summer holidays underway, I would encourage Arun’s residents, visitors and their families to plan a great, free day out in one of our fantastic award-winning parks.”

The national award, handed out by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country.

A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to visitors that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities not just on the day of judging, but all year round.

Paul Dendle, Arun’s cabinet member for environmental services, said: “We know that quality green spaces have a major impact on the health and happiness of local communities and, thanks to these awards, people in the Arun district can rest assured that they are benefitting from green spaces of the very highest quality.”

Hotham Park and Marine Park Gardens hold the award for the fifth and third years running respectively.

Marine Park Gardens was also ‘mystery shopped’ by the Keep Britain Tidy judges, something which only happens when parks have received a particularly high score in the previous year.

The awards announcement coincided with the start of the Love Parks Week.

To discover more about the district’s parks and green spaces visit www.arun.gov.uk/parks or www.sussexbythesea.com/parks-and-gardens.