• It’s official: Central Bedfordshire has some of the best parks and green spaces in the country
• Love parks week starts Friday 28 July
• Countryside survey asks public what they want from our local green spaces

Central Bedfordshire has been recognised as being home to some of the best parks and green spaces in the country in the 2023 National Green Flag Awards.  

Houghton Hall Park and Rushmere Country Park have again received the prestigious Green Flag award, which is an internationally recognised hallmark of quality. This year Houghton Hall Park received its highest ever rating. 

Flitton Moor, Linslade Wood, Studham Common, and Tiddenfoot Waterside Park all received the Green Flag Community award. 

Councillor Gareth Mackey, Deputy Executive Member for Health, and Community liaison at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “This is a fantastic accomplishment and I want to thank all our staff and hard-working volunteers who continue to put in so much time and effort to make our local parks and open spaces enjoyable for the public. 

“Our parks and open spaces are so important for our physical and mental health. They are great places to connect with nature, get some exercise, and relax and play with family and friends.  

“We hope that by achieving Green Flag status in so many of our parks and spaces it will encourage even more people to get out and enjoy them.” 

Have your say about Central Bedfordshire’s countryside sites 

To provide great places for the local community to exercise, relax and play in nature, the Council is asking residents what they think about our green spaces in an online countryside sites survey 

The survey will be open for a month from Friday 28 July to Thursday 31 August and asks for views on cleanliness and maintenance, wildlife and conservation projects, visitor facilities and events. 

Councillor Gareth Mackey, Deputy Executive Member for Health, and Community liaison at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “We would like to ask anyone that has visited one of our countryside sites to complete the survey and to tell us their thoughts about how it could be improved. 

“The survey will take no longer than five minutes to complete and your feedback will help us manage our sites to meet the needs of the community.”