Bucks parks and green spaces recognised as some of the country's best

The Council is celebrating after eight of its spaces were awarded a Green Flag Award.

The prestigious Green Flag Award was given to multiple Bucks locations, including Aylesbury's Vale Park and the Heartlands in Buckingham. The international quality mark recognises sites that are welcoming, safe, well-maintained and managed to the highest standards.

Higginson Park in Marlow, Bedgrove Park in Aylesbury, Hughenden Park and The Rye in High Wycombe, as well as Black Park and Langley Park Country Parks, also retained their Green Flag status.

Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, commended Bucks Council saying:

"Buckinghamshire Council have shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like these that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard. Congratulations to everyone involved."

Over the past year, the Council say they have been investing in the area's parks and green space, with improvements made to both Whitehill Park in Aylesbury and The Rye in High Wycombe. The former was recently revamped, with a large multi‑play unit, a small outdoor gym and new seating added in March this year. 

They add that they have also been supporting community-led improvements to neighbourhood parks through the Healthy School Neighbourhoods (HSN) pilot, a Public Health-led initiative focused on creating healthier, more active communities around schools in Aylesbury's Elmhurst Ward and High Wycombe's Cressex Ward. As part of the initiative a new castle-themed playground has recently opened in Alfred Rose Memorial Park in Aylesbury, with a new outdoor gym also opened at Booker Park in Cressex.

Bucks resident and visitors will be able to celebrate the area's award winning parks at the upcoming Love Parks Week, running from 24 July to 2 August.

Peter Brazier, Buckinghamshire Council's Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said of the awards and recent improvements:

"The Green Flag Awards are fantastic recognition of the high standards we continue to achieve across Buckinghamshire's parks and green spaces, and a testament to the professionalism and dedication of our parks teams, rangers, volunteers and community partners. I wish to thank them personally.

"Our parks play a vital role in supporting health and wellbeing, encouraging people to be active, connect with nature and spend time together. As we celebrate Love Parks Week, we're proud to continue investing in these valued community spaces, whether that's through improvements at parks such as Whitehill Park and The Rye, or by working with local young people and residents to help shape the future of places like Alfred Rose Park.

"By investing in our parks, we're investing in healthier, greener and more connected communities across Buckinghamshire."