NEARLY a dozen parks and green spaces have been awarded a Green Flag across Suffolk and Essex.

Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds, Elmhurst Park in Woodbridge and Crescent Garden in Frinton were among the region’s 11 winners for 2012/13 through the awards scheme run by the Keep Britain Tidy Group.

The Green Flag Awards set the national standard for parks and green spaces and a record-breaking 1,424 won the accolade this year.

Woodbridge Town Council clerk Chris Walker said the town is delighted Elmhurst Park has retained the flag for more than a decade.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have retained the flag for the 11th consecutive year making us the only town council with that record in the whole of the UK,” she added.

“As we are such a small organisation it’s even more pleasing to keep the flag.”

Green Flag Award judges look at criteria including sustainability, conservation, community involvements and whether the park is a welcoming place.

Other Suffolk winners include Nowton Park in Bury St Edmunds, East Town Park in Haverhill, Lowestoft’s Nicholas Everitt Park and Ipswich’s Holywells Park and Christchurch Park.

In Essex flags were awarded to High Woods Country Park in Colchester, Clacton Seafront and Marine Gardens and Great Notley Country Park in Braintree.

Both the Clacton and Frinton gardens are tended to by Tendring District Council.

Leader Neil Stock said: “We are very fortunate in Tendring to have a vast array of wonderful open spaces and a fantastic variety of natural environment to make the most of. They can be enjoyed by both residents and visitors alike and we are rightly proud of what we have on offer across the district.

“I am delighted that all the hard work by Council staff and our community partners that goes into the seafront and gardens in Clacton, and the Crescent Gardens in Frinton has paid off and been recognised by independent judges.”

It is the fourth year Clacton Seafront and Gardens has scooped the award, and the third for Crescent Gardens.