Green Flag Award presentation ceremony hosted in Bushey

Thirty-seven sites across the county have been given accolades in this year’s Green Flag Awards, which recognises the nation’s best green spaces.

Representatives from nearly 20 different local authorities, volunteer groups, community trusts and businesses gathered at Bushey Golf and Country Club for the presentation organised by the parks teams at Hertsmere Borough Council and Broxbourne Borough Council on Thursday, July 19.

Hertsmere was chosen to host the first-ever regional ceremony because the borough council hold the highest number of Green Flag Awards in the county.

Introducing the awards, Hertsmere Borough Councillor Jean Heywood, Conservative representative, said: "I am really pleased to see that there are now 37 awards across the county.

"This shows the commitment and dedication of all the officers, councillors, contractors and especially the community groups involved.

"For me, the benefits of the Green Flag are the feeling of pride, motivation, and the recognition of efforts, but particularly they help to provide and meet the needs of our local community."

Among the green spaces honoured was the King George Recreation Ground in Bushey.

It was the first park in Hertfordshire to be given a Green Flag Award in 1999 and has secured it every year since then.

The award tops off a landmark year for the park, which celebrated its centenary in May.

Bushey Rose Garden, which was the subject of a £1.5million restoration project two years ago by Hertsmere Borough Council , held on to its Green Heritage Award.

Scooping a Green Flag Community Award was the Fishers Fields Nature Reserve in Bushey.