00:01Parks and green spaces are often at the heart of communities, giving people places to exercise,
00:06relax and spend time outdoors. But new figures from the Green Flag Awards Scheme show the North
00:11East has received the lowest number of awards of any region in England this year. The scheme,
00:16managed by Keep Britain Tidy, recognises well-managed parks and open spaces,
00:20with a record number of awards handed out as it marks its 30th anniversary.
00:24The North East received 57 awards, while Yorkshire received 90. Most other regions achieved well over
00:31100 awards, with the North West recording the highest total. Keeping Britain Tidy says it's
00:36up to individual local authorities and other land managers whether they choose to apply for Green
00:41Flag status. Several councils say their priorities differ. Newcastle City Council says there's a
00:47cost to entering the awards and it prefers to direct as much funding as possible into improving
00:51and maintaining parks. It says every site it entered achieved Green Flag status though.
00:57Durham County Council says it's chosen to prioritise resources towards maintaining its parks,
01:02rather than putting more forward for awards, adding residents can remain confident its green spaces
01:07continue to be well cared for throughout the year. Other councils say the awards they have received
01:12reflect the work of staff and volunteers maintaining local parks. Northumberland recorded the region's
01:18highest total with 14 green flag awards across parks and country parks, while several other authorities
01:24also retained recognised sites. The green flag scheme began in the late 1990s.
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