Hawick's Wilton Lodge Park has secured Green Flag status following a multi-million pound regeneration scheme.

The Green Flag Awards celebrate the benchmark standard of green spaces in the UK and around the world.

Councillor Sandy Aitchison, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Locality Services, said: "This award is a huge honour for Hawick and the Scottish Borders, being the very first park or green space in our region to receive Green Flag status.

"The award has recognised the stunning landscape of the park and the wide variety of new facilities provided through the regeneration project, which has been funded by the Council and its various partners."

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The £3.64 million scheme has delivered a number of new facilities including Zandra Elliot Bandstand, McLaren Bridge, a play park and a café. The entire scheme is expected to be completed this summer.

Improvements have also been carried out to the walled garden, waterfall walk and Hawick Museum.

Other works have been carried out to the various shelters and memorials within the park, including the Cenotaph, Boer War Memorial, MacNee Fountain, Jimmie Guthrie Memorial, Laurie Shelter and Henderson Shelter.

Footways, lighting and signage have also been upgraded with funding from SUSTRANS and Smarter Choices.

Pete Leonard, Operations Director at Keep Scotland Beautiful, added: "It is great to see a newly regenerated site, which has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Funding, added to the list of awarded parks.

"We are very proud of all Scotland's Green Flag Award parks and this year we have had a number of new parks receive their Green Flag. This is clearly recognition for everyone’s efforts in helping to make their local open space a greener, cleaner and healthier place to live, work and play."

(CM/LM)