The Environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful, award the accolade which acknowledges quality green open spaces across the country that help to boost our nation's health and wellbeing.

The winning parks in South Lanarkshire are Strathaven Park, Cambuslang Park and Castlebank Park.

The international Green Flag Award is administered in Scotland by Keep Scotland Beautiful and acts as a benchmark for recreational outdoor space. The award celebrates well maintained parks and greenspaces and supports the opportunities that they provide to enable exercise, improve mental wellbeing and provide safe areas for play – something that has been particularly important to everyone over the last 18 months. More than 2000 parks across the world have achieved the award this year.

Amongst the 2021 award winners are spaces managed by local authorities, community groups and various other organisations including the NHS.

Chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor John Anderson, said: “I am delighted that three parks in our area have been rewarded in this way.

“It is testament to the hard work and effort that everyone associated with the parks put in on a daily basis, including council staff and the volunteer groups.

“Having such wonderful green spaces on our doorstep is one of the many benefits to living in a wonderful area like South Lanarkshire.

“Congratulations to everyone who has helped the parks achieve Green Flag status.”

Barry Fisher, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “I would like to congratulate all of Scotland’s award-winning parks. Receiving this prestigious international benchmark recognises all the hard work that has gone into maintaining and managing these precious green open spaces.

“Every single one of these parks provides an invaluable service to the local communities that it serves - from creating a safe space to play, to think, to work out – and they helped to address many of the health and wellbeing challenges we faced as a country during lockdown.”

“Spending time in nature can be good for people’s health and wellbeing, and merely living in a greener neighbourhood can be good for health. The Green Flag Award recognises the valuable, and tangible contribution that these parks make towards the nation’s well-being.”

A detailed map of Scotland’s Green Flag sites can be found at: www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/parks