Amber Valley Borough Council is celebrating after achieving its highest ever number of Green Flag Awards, with nine parks and green spaces now recognised among the very best in the country.
The latest awards see the borough increase its total from eight to nine, with Alfreton Welfare Recreation Ground joining the list for the first time.
(Pictured above: Councillor Burslem joins members of the team at Alfreton Welfare Recreation Ground, which has been awarded a Green Flag Award for the very first time, helping Amber Valley achieve a record nine Green Flag Awards in 2026.)
The remaining eight sites have all retained their Green Flag status, reflecting the consistently high standards of parks and green spaces across Amber Valley.
The awards span the length of the borough, with Green Flag status now held by Alfreton Welfare Recreation Ground, Belper Cemetery, Belper Parks, Belper River Gardens, Crays Hill Recreation Ground, Crossley Park, Heanor Memorial Park, Pennytown Ponds Local Nature Reserve and Riddings Park.
The latest awards continue Amber Valley's long-standing Green Flag success. Crossley Park has proudly held the award since 2007, while several other parks and green spaces have retained Green Flag status for well over a decade.
Councillor Amina Burslem, Cabinet Member for Communities, Street Pride and Wellbeing, said: "Achieving nine Green Flag Awards is a fantastic milestone for Amber Valley and one that everyone involved should be incredibly proud of.
“Receiving one Green Flag Award is difficult. To retain eight existing awards while adding a ninth shows the dedication and commitment by our teams that goes into caring for these spaces day in, day out.
“These awards aren't just about beautifully maintained parks. They're about creating places where children can play, families can spend time together, people can enjoy nature, improve their wellbeing and take pride in the communities they live in. That's what makes this recognition so special."
Now celebrating its 30th year, the Green Flag Award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
(Pictured above (left to right) are Open Spaces Officer Richard Hodgkinson, Councillor Amina Burslem and Leisure and Parks Manager Tom Nelson at this year's Green Flag Awards ceremony, celebrating Amber Valley Borough Council's success.)
This year, a record-breaking 2,391 sites across the UK have achieved the award.
Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy. Yet for millions of people, particularly in the most deprived areas, local parks simply don’t feel safe or welcoming.
“With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it’s a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways to improve people’s quality of life.
“Amber Valley Borough Council have shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like this that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard.
"Congratulations to everyone involved."
Amber Valley's award-winning parks and green spaces are open for everyone to enjoy. To find out more about the borough's parks, facilities and green spaces, visit www.ambervalley.gov.uk/environment/parks-and-gardens/.
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under contract from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
(Pictured above: Heanor Memorial Park, the Parks team raise the flag to celebrate another successful year, with the park retaining its prestigious Green Flag Award as part of Amber Valley's record-breaking total of nine awards.)
Contact the team directly on 01773 570222 or email enquiry@ambervalley.gov.uk
