A NATURE reserve in Andover has picked up a prestigious Green Flag award for another year running.

Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) is celebrating after another year of receiving a Green Flag Award for three of its parks – Rooksbury Mill Local Nature Reserve in Andover, Valley Park Woodlands Local Nature Reserve and War Memorial Park in Romsey.

The news that these sites have achieved the accreditation again, which they have now held for more than 10 years, is testament to the hard work and dedication of the teams that care for the spaces so that everyone can enjoy them, the council has said.

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The Green Flag award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Cllr Phil North, leader of TVBC, said: “We are very proud of our green spaces in Test Valley, and they are well used by our communities. This further recognition highlights the important work our teams are doing to make sure these parks are kept safe and clean. I’m delighted to have received these awards once again.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme manager Paul Todd MBE added: “These parks are vital green spaces for the community in Test Valley, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that they’re maintained to the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”

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TVBC owns and manages over 400 hectares of land which is categorised as green space.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the department for levelling up, housing and communities, 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.