SEVERAL of Southend’s best loved parks have been awarded a national accolade, putting them among the best in the country.

Four parks across the borough managed to retain their Green Flag award.

These included: Chalkwell, Priory, Southchurch, and Belfairs.

This year the parks were joined by Southchurch Hall Gardens which was also given the prestigious award making the borough a five star location for parks.

In total 1,966 parks and green spaces received the title across the United Kingdom, setting the benchmark national standard for publicly accessible parks and green spaces.

Councillor Lesley Salter, cabinet member for healthy communities and wellbeing, said: “With a wonderful array of flora on show throughout the borough’s parks, these awards highlight the hard work and dedication of all the parks staff here at the council.

“These unsung heroes provide a service that we as a town are remarkably proud of.

“We have a long-standing tradition of producing Green Flag-worthy parks and green spaces in the town and long may it continue.”

Southend parks have received the award frequently in the past few years, and as a result have become cultural and social hubs at the heart of the borough, hosting bandstands, charity events, and even the world’s first digital art park.

A number of other parks across South Essex also received the accolade, including King George V Playing Field operated by Rayleigh Town Council, and Woodside Park Benfleet, operated by Castle Point Council.

The Green Flag award is run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, alongside Keep Britain Tidy in England, in order to ensure that as many people as possible have access to quality green spaces regardless of where they live, ensure that they are appropriately managed and meet the needs of the communities they are situated within, promote good practice in the green space sector, and to recognise the hard work of managers, staff, and volunteers who work to cultivate the parks.

Similar to the trusted Blue Flag beach scheme, which determines the quality of seafront areas around the world, the Green Flag award gives parks the opportunity to mark themselves as national leaders.

The hope is it will mark them out as attractions for tourists and residents.