AS Poole prepares to celebrate the 125 anniversary of Poole Park during this year’s Love Parks Week, it celebrated the awarding of three Green Flags.

Upton Country Park, Poole Park and Hamworthy Park were among 1,582 parks and open spaces nationwide awarded the sought after status, recognising them as among the best in England and Wales.

This year marks the 10th time Upton Country Park can fly the flag, Poole Park’s eighth time and the sixth for Hamworthy Park.

The announcement came as residents are being encouraged to celebrate the borough’s green spaces and the people who look after them, during Love Parks Week.

A host of events and activities for all the family are on offer from Friday (July 24) until Sunday, August 2, ranging from health walks across the heath to country shows and story trails.

Poole Park brings the curtain down on Sunday with a family fun day celebrating its 125th anniversary.

“We are extremely proud of the variety and quality of open spaces across Poole and with this year’s Green Flag awards coinciding with events for Love Parks Week, there really is no better time to celebrate these areas as well as the extensive work of volunteers and council staff to ensure they remain places for residents and visitors to enjoy all year round,” said Cllr John Rampton, cabinet portfolio holder for environment.

The Green Flag awards scheme is run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government and each site is assessed against eight criteria including horticulture, cleanliness and community involvement.

Each benefits from its own group of “Friends”, who help raise funds and take part in activities to improve, protect and promote the parks.

Upton Country Park and Poole Park boast more than 100 acres of parkland, with a saltwater lake at Poole and woodlands at Upton while Hamworthy Park’s beachside location covers 27 acres and is home to the borough’s only paddling pool.