Three Aberdeenshire parks have once again been recognised for their high standards in environmental management and maintenance, earning prestigious Green Flag Awards from Keep Scotland Beautiful.

Aden Country Park in Mintlaw has secured the award for the 16th consecutive year. Haddo Country Park near Tarves continues its strong performance with four consecutive wins, while Ury Riverside Park in Inverurie, managed by Ury Riverside Park SCIO, has retained the Community Award for the third year in a row.

The Green Flag Award, administered in Scotland by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, is an international benchmark for quality parks and green spaces. It recognises sites that meet high standards in areas such as safety, cleanliness, biodiversity, sustainability, and community involvement.

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Each park must demonstrate excellence across eight key criteria to qualify for the award, including being welcoming, well-maintained, sustainably and effectively managed, and involving the local community.

Aden Country Park, covering 230 acres, offers a rich blend of heritage and recreation. With its Neolithic history, woodland walks, picnic areas, café, gift shop, and Farming Museum, it provides a variety of educational and leisure opportunities.

Haddo Country Park, situated near Haddo House, features a peaceful landscape of open water, grassland, mature trees, and woodland. Its network of surfaced paths makes it ideal for wildlife spotting and relaxing walks.

Ury Riverside Park, a community-led project since 2017, is a transforming space created from former farmland along the River Ury. It has become a popular spot for walking, jogging, volunteering, and observing nature.