Ashby de la Zouch is flying the flag once more at the Bath Grounds.

Many parks and green spaces across the country have raised their Green Flag Award with pride in a year when millions of people have seen the value of having great quality green spaces on their doorstep.

Among them is the Bath Grounds, which has been successful in its application for re-accreditation for the Green Flag Award.

The 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.

Ashby Bath Grounds is one of more than 2,000 sites across the country to collect the award for 2022.

The aim of the Green Flag Award is to ensure that everyone has access to a quality green space and to enable them to live more healthy lifestyles.

Councillor John Coxon, Leader of Ashby de la Zouch Town Council, said: "I am absolutely delighted that the Town Council has been successful in its application to retain a Green Flag Award for Ashby Bath Grounds.

"We have shown that running the Bath Grounds, which are well-used and valued by our community, is about more than just cutting the grass.

"We have established that effective management and the use of skilled staff, along with the support of the local community, are key to creating a fantastic public park.

"I believe that we are the only Town Council in Leicestershire to have achieved this award.

"I understand that there are 14 award holders in the County, all of whom - with the exception of Stafford Orchard Park in Quorn - are principal authorities.

"We can now add Green Flag to Purple Flag and the Local Council Award Scheme Gold Award in our list of nationally recognised achievements."

Councillor Roger Bayliss, Chairman of the Town Council's Parks & Cemetery Committee added: "This is another huge achievement for the town and testament to all of the hard work put in over the last few years by the Town Council's grounds maintenance team and many volunteers.

"We have now installed our flag pole on the Bath Grounds and it was a great honour to be able to finally raise the flag with Town Councillor Mike Ball, who chairs the Bath Grounds Advisory Group."

Commenting on Ashby's success, Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: "This year, more than ever, our parks and green spaces have been a lifeline and we know that millions of people have used them to relax, meet friends, exercise or simply escape for a short time."

"It is testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of parks staff and volunteers that, despite the challenges that went along with record numbers of visitors, Ashby Bath Grounds has achieved the highest international standards demanded by the Green Flag Award."