Douglas Council has been awarded a record nine green flags by the environmental charity ’Keep Britain Tidy’.

As well as retaining its eight awards from 2018 - for Noble’s Park, Douglas Golf Course, Douglas Head, Douglas Borough Cemetery, Hutchinson Square, The Marine Gardens, Derby Square and Summerhill Glen - the council won a new green flag for the Kaye Memorial Garden at the bottom of Summerhill.

Regeneration and community committee chairman Stephen Pitts said: ’This is yet another triumph for the parks service team who create consistently magnificent green spaces throughout our town.

’I am especially pleased that, on the first application, the Kaye Memorial Garden has achieved green flag status this year.

’With its memorial to those who died in the Summerland fire disaster of 1973, the garden provides a fittingly tranquil setting for quiet contemplation.’

Mr Pitts said that despite having numerous budget pressures, the Council was committed to investing in the borough’s green spaces.

Some £195,000 has been invested into a new skateboard park at Noble’s Park and the council has spent £65,000 on a new water circulation system for the immensely popular splash zone, which will not only save water but will also pay for itself in five years’ time.

Additionally, the council has continued to invest in new features at Summerhill Glen, paying £25,000 for the current financial year, and is also partnering with ’Isle of Play’ to deliver a unique children’s play experience at Ballaughton Park.

Once awarded however, the Green Flags award is not automatically renewed, meaning that the Council have to continually come up with new schemes and keep up the high standards if they want to be with a chance of winning again.

Council leader David Christian said: ’Yet again Douglas has been ranked alongside local authorities in the north west of England with much larger populations, which makes winning these nine green flags all the more significant.’

He added: ’Green flag awards aren’t just about well-tended parks and gardens; they’re about investing in community spaces that add value to people’s lives and contribute to creating a positive image for the town.’

He said the head of parks, David Hewes, and his team are constantly working on keeping on top of the gardens and making Douglas a desirable place to live and visit.

The green flag award scheme takes into account environmental, management and future planning policies along with community involvement.

It is judged by more than 700 experts and is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces across the British Isles, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.