By Victoria Brenan

Last updated at 12:58, Tuesday, 17 July 2012

Eight parks and outdoor spaces in Carlisle have been named among the best in Britain.

Bitts Park

For Carlisle’s Bitts Park, it’s the 10th time the city centre park has been awarded a Green Flag – the national standard for parks.

Others include Chances Park, the cemetery grounds, Hammonds Pond, Kingmoor nature reserve, Rickerby Park and Talkin Tarn, near Brampton.

Hammonds Pond is an eight times winner, Kingmoor seven and Carlisle cemetery six.

Elsie Martlew, responsible for the environment and transport with the city council, said the awards were “another stamp of approval” for Carlisle and its green spaces.

“This year’s awards are testament to the countless hours of hard work put in by the council’s green spaces team and the local community groups,” she said.

“They ensure that we have areas of great beauty and tranquillity that benefit our residents and visitors alike. Well done to all concerned.”

The announcement of the awards comes as Carlisle prepares for Love Parks Week, which starts on Saturday.

It will feature 39 events at parks and open spaces around the city, culminating in a mass picnic in Bitts Park on Sunday, July 29, with a big screen showing Olympic action.

Paul Todd, Green Flag Award scheme manager, said it was another ‘record breaking year’ for the awards.

“A Green Flag Award provides national recognition for the achievements of all those whose hard work and dedication has helped to create these fantastic places for all to enjoy,” he said.

The Green Flag Award Scheme is run by Keep Britain Tidy, The Conservation Volunteers and GreenSpace.

Any green space in the UK is eligible to win this award providing it is open to the public. The scheme was set up in 1996. A record number of 1,424 UK sites will be announced as Green Flag winners today.

First published at 11:26, Tuesday, 17 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk