A NUMBER of Trafford parks and green spaces have been given a prestigious award.

An incredible 11 parks across Trafford have been recognised by the Green Flag Award Scheme as the very best in the world.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.

The 11 award winning parks include Davyhulme Park, Denzell Gardens, Flixton Gardens, Hullard Park, John Leigh Park, Lostock Park, Victoria Park, Walkden Gardens, Walton Park, Woodheys Park and Worthington Park.

Trafford Green Flag Award Parks are managed by the One Trafford green space and ground maintenance teams, with the support of volunteer Friends of Parks groups.

The teams have been working together to ensure the Green Flag standards are met and are consistent throughout the year.

Trafford’s Green Flag parks have met the specific set of criteria, achieving a high standard. Criteria includes important features such as aesthetics of the park, horticulture and biodiversity.

Over the last three years, One Trafford have been working with Friends of Parks groups to create better habitats for pollinators and insects in a number of Green Flag parks.

It is said that this will help to increase biodiversity within green spaces.

Thousands of perennial bulbs such as native daffodils, crocus and snowdrops have been planted at John Leigh Park, Victoria Park, Walton Parks and Worthington Park. Similarly, some parks now have wildflower meadows and beds, which are helping to provide stepping-stones of habitats across the borough.

The parks are among over 2,000 UK parks and green spaces that will receive a Green Flag Award for 2020.

The award, accompanied by the famous flag, is a mark of a quality park or green space.

Cllr Liz Patel, executive member for culture and leisure,said: “We are so incredibly proud to be celebrating this achievement of 11 Green Flag Awards for the second year in a row.

"Our green space, ground maintenance and dedicated park friends volunteers have been working hard to continue maintaining Trafford’s parks to a high standard.

"This year in particular, our teams have persevered in managing green spaces while up against the effects of coronavirus."