TWO green spaces in Weymouth have been named as some of the country’s best green spaces.

In a record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award, as the scheme marks its Silver Jubilee, Greenhill Gardens, near Weymouth Beach, and Sandsfoot Gardens, just off Old Castle Road, are two of 2,127 parks and green spaces celebrating success.

It comes after the Borough Gardens in Dorchester have been recognised for the 14th year in a row by the Green Flag Award scheme as one of the very best in the country.

READ MOREThe Borough Gardens in Dorchester wins Green Flag Award for 14th year running

Today (Thursday, October 14), Weymouth Town Council is raising a Green Flag Award at Greenhill and Sandsfoot Gardens.

Dorset Echo: Jason Drew (Weymouth Town Council), Tara Williams (Weymouth Town Council), Sue Bray (Greenhill Community Trust), Barbara Duggan (Friends of Greenhill Gardens), Danny Wilson (Weymouth Town Council)Jason Drew (Weymouth Town Council), Tara Williams (Weymouth Town Council), Sue Bray (Greenhill Community Trust), Barbara Duggan (Friends of Greenhill Gardens), Danny Wilson (Weymouth Town Council)

As part of the The Jubilee Clock will also be lit green tonight to help celebrate the award, which is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

A spokewoman from Weymouth Town Council, said: "During the last 18 months, our parks and green spaces have played a vital role for people through lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely.

"The news that both Greenhill and Sandsfoot Gardens have retained their Green Flag status for another year is testament to the hard work and dedication the council puts in to making these green spaces a great place that everyone can enjoy."

Dorset Echo: Sandsfoot Gardens, just off Old Castle RoadSandsfoot Gardens, just off Old Castle Road

Deputy mayor of Weymouth Town Council, Ann Weaving said: "It’s an amazing achievement for the council to win these awards once again so congratulations to the hard work of our parks team, Friends Groups and the Greenhill Community Trust.

"We know how much quality green spaces matter to residents and visitors, and this award celebrates the dedication that goes into maintaining Greenhill and Sandsfoot Gardens to such a high standard."

Greenhill and Sandsfoot join parks and green spaces as diverse as the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, Woodhouse Park in Peterlee and Chiswick Old Cemetery in London to receive Green Flag status.

Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: "I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making Greenhill and Sandsfoot worthy of a Green Flag Award.

"To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure that Greenhill and Sandsfoot have high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and is a place that supports people to live healthy lives."

In celebration of this year’s announcement, Green Flag Award hopes buildings and monuments around the UK will #GoGreenForParks today to show appreciation for the spaces that mean so much to people. Share your pics at #GoGreenForParks.

A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available on the Green Flag’s website: www.greenflagaward.org/award-winners/