Parks across Suffolk and Essex have been judged as being among the best in the country as part of an accreditation scheme recognising high-quality green spaces.

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has presented Green Flag status to a record breaking 1,476 parks across the UK in today’s annual awards.

Among the 123 regional winners, entries from across Ipswich, Woodbridge, Clacton, Colchester, Bury St Edmunds and Diss will today be flying their flags, showing the public they are well-managed, high-quality green spaces.

Woodbridge mayor Geoff Holdcroft said he was delighted the town’s Elmhurst Park achieved the award for the 13th year running. “The renewal of this prestigious award makes Elmhurst one of the top parks in England and Wales,” he said.

“Each year Elmhurst Park is judged against much bigger parks and organisations and this is another impressive win for Woodbridge. I would like to pay tribute to the staff of Eastern Facilities Management Solutions for maintenance of the park.”

In Tendring, Clacton Seafront Gardens and West Greensward, Frinton’s Crescent Gardens and Weeley Crematorium Gardens were all named among the best public open spaces in Britain.

Tendring District Council’s, Nick Turner, who is responsible for the environment, said it was a great honour and acknowledgement for those staff and volunteers who helped maintain the sites to the very highest standards.

“This award recognises and highlights that people in Tendring are benefitting from green spaces of the very highest quality,” he said.

“While these gardens in Clacton, Frinton and Weeley have picked up the accolades once again I can honestly say we are proud of all the open spaces that we look after on behalf of our community.”