Wilton Lodge Park in Hawick in the Scottish Borders has been presented with a Green Flag Award by environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful.

The accolade acknowledges quality green open spaces across the country that help to boost our nation's health and wellbeing.

The international Green Flag Award is administered in Scotland by Keep Scotland Beautiful and acts as a benchmark for recreational outdoor space. The award celebrates well maintained parks and greenspaces and supports the opportunities that they provide to enable exercise, improve mental wellbeing and provide safe areas for play – something that has been particularly important to everyone over the last couple of years. Across the UK 2,208 parks have achieved the award this year – with a growing number of them in Scotland.

Amongst the 2022 award winners are spaces managed by local authorities, community groups and various other organisations.

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Jamie Ormiston, Beaches and Parks Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: "I would like to congratulate all of Scotland's award-winning parks. Receiving this prestigious international benchmark recognises all the hard work that has gone into maintaining and managing these precious green open spaces.

"As the only accreditation for park management of its kind in Scotland, we have supported local authority teams, land managers and communities across Scotland to drive up environmental standards at many of our parks and open spaces for residents and visitors alike.

"Parks attract a diverse range of visitors, all of whom look for different facilities and have different expectations. The Green Flag Award, and the collective expertise of managers and communities across Scotland, drives improvements through a framework which supports the management of our environment, our wildlife and the people who visit.

"Scotland's parks and open spaces attract thousands of visitors every year and I'd encourage everyone to #RespectProtectEnjoy them this summer."

Cllr John Greenwell, at Scottish Borders Council, said: "There has been significant investment into Wilton Lodge Park in recent years, including the destination playpark and Hawick and Scottish Borders Council are very proud that it has maintained its Green Flag status.

"This is recognition of the hard work of the various volunteers, the project team and our services that made the regeneration of the park a success and keep it looking its best.

"Wilton Lodge Park welcomes thousands of visitors each year and its Green Flag status encourages even more people to come to this fantastic park and to explore the town and the wider Scottish Borders."