Seventy one Scottish parks have been awarded a Green Flag Award by environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful, in recognition of quality green spaces that help to boost the nation's health and wellbeing.

Spanning 16 local authorities, the 2019 Scottish award winners include spaces run by local authorities, community groups and universities.

First time awards have been presented in Aberdeen to Slopefield Allotments, South Ayrshire to Belleisle Park and the Western Isles to community managed Eoropie Park.

The prestigious Heritage Award was presented to Duthie Park in Aberdeen and Belleisle Park in South Ayrshire, recognising how they are managing to support and promote their unique heritage.

Edinburgh City Council had the largest number of flags of any local council with 34. They will host the Green Flag Awards event at Saughton Park.

Welcoming the awards, Parks Leader for the City of Edinburgh Council, Councillor Karen Doran, said: "It's a great honour to host the Green Flag Awards event at our fabulous Saughton Park, which is looking sensational after its recent multimillion pound restoration, and I'd like to congratulate all the award-winners for their success. We're thrilled that the Capital has again scooped the largest number of green flags of any local authority in Scotland – at 34 flags, that's very nearly half of all flags awarded nationwide!

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"Hats off to our outstanding parks staff for their tireless work to care for Edinburgh's much-loved parks and greenspaces and huge thanks too to all the dedicated Friends of Parks groups for everything they do. By working together with the community, we're looking after one of Edinburgh's most treasured assets so that everyone who lives in and visits the city can enjoy the many benefits of our beautiful, tranquil and well-maintained greenspaces."

The International Green Flag award celebrates recreational outdoor space and supports the opportunities they provide to enable exercise, improve mental wellbeing and provide safe areas for play.

Almost 2,000 parks across the world have received the award, including Abu Dhabi's Al Ain Oasis, the world's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Derek Robertson, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, added: "I would like to congratulate all of Scotland's award-winning parks. Receiving this prestigious international benchmark recognises all of the hard work that has gone into maintaining and managing these precious green open spaces.

"Every single one of these parks provides an invaluable service to the local communities that it serves - from creating a safe space to play, to think, to exercise - helping to address many of the health and wellbeing challenges we face as a country."

Spending time in nature can be good for people's health and wellbeing and living in a greener neighbourhood can improve health outcomes. The Green Flag Award recognises the valuable contribution these parks make towards the nation's well-being.

greenspace scotland, the parks and greenspace charity, support the development and sustainable management of greenspaces.

Julie Procter, Chief Executive of greenspace scotland, said: "We know that greenspace is good for people and communities- it makes our lives and places better. Our goal at greenspace scotland is that everyone enjoys easy access to quality greenspace which meets their needs and improves their quality of life. This is why we're delighted to see so many Scottish parks being presented with a Green Flag award in 2019 and would like to offer a big well done to everyone who works hard on achieving the award for Scotland's parks."

The Green Flag Award announcement falls on Love Parks week, Keep Britain Tidy's celebration of the very best green spaces. Love Parks week encourages everyone to enjoy and protect local outdoor spaces for future generations.

(MH/JG)