The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and open spaces – recognising the best spaces in the UK – and has this year been gained in Ashfield for Sutton Lawn; Kingsway Park, Kirkby; Titchfield Park, Hucknall; Brierley Forest Park and Portland Park, Kirkby.

A summary of this year's Green Flag achievements for the East Midlands puts Ashfield in joint third place with Northamptonshire County Council – with Nottingham City Council and Leicester City Council in first and second place respectively.

“Being awarded five Green Flags in Ashfield this year is a great achievement – one which our hard working teams, and community groups can be immensely proud of,” said Edd de Coverly, Head of Neighbourhood Services.

“Our parks and green spaces are on a par with the very best in the country and are a real asset for our residents to enjoy. This ranking puts our success into context and shows the very high standards which have been attained.”

The table below has been compiled by Green Space East Midlands and shows the five organisations in the East Midlands with the most Green Flag Awards.

As a result of Ashfield's Green Flag achievements Council officers have now been asked by the award organisers The Green Flag Plus Partnership, to help them make changes to the Green Flag Awards scheme in the coming months.