Parks and green spaces across the region have been recognised with the coveted Green Flag status.

Sixty-one parks across the region have been given the status, with more than 2,200 handed it across the country.

Among those recognised are Darlington’s South Park, Druridge Bay Country Park on the Northumberland Coast, Newcastle’s Leazes Park and Saltwell Park in Gateshead.

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Allison Ogden-Newton OBE from Keep Britain Tidy, which runs the awards, said: “Our parks continue to provide a vital sanctuary for communities to play, grow and bond.

“The news that a record number of parks in the UK have achieved the Green Flag Award standard reflects the tireless work of those tasked with looking after these national assets.

“At Keep Britain Tidy, we’re very proud of the Green Flag Award - a crucial component in ensuring the continuing quality of our parks and green spaces, making sure they are managed to the highest standards and are safe and accessible. We believe it should be a minimum standard for every park – and that everyone, wherever they live, should have access to high-quality green space.

“Parks play a key role in the health and wellbeing of the nation not only in the physical and mental health of us all, but also in the environmental health of the planet.”

Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd MBE added: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved on achieving a Green Flag Award.

“All our winners provide vital green space for communities, bring people together and create opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure these precious parks and green spaces maintain the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”

Here are all of the North East parks to he handed the Green Flag

  • South Park - Darlington
  • West Park , Darlington
  • Annfield Plain Park, Durham
  • Blackhill and Consett Park, Durham
  • Durham crematorium and cemetery, Durham
  • Hardwick Park, Durham
  • Mountsett Crematorium, Durham
  • Riverside Park, Durham
  • Town Recreation at Bishop Auckland, Durham
  • Wharton Park, Durham
  • Chase Park, Gateshead
  • Saltwell Park, Gateshead
  • Elba Park, Sunderland
  • Summerhill, Hartlepool
  • Ward Jackson Park, Hartlepool
  • St Andrew’s Cemetery, Hexham
  • Albert Park, Middlesbrough
  • Fairy Dell, Middlesbrough
  • Hemlington Lake and Recreation Centre, Middlesbrough
  • Linthorpe Cemetery, Middlesbrough
  • Pallister Park, Middlesbrough
  • Stewart Park, Middlesbrough
  • Thorntree Park, Middlesbrough
  • King's Campus, Newcastle University
  • Benton Quarry Park, North Tyneside
  • Chirton & Redburn Dene Parks, North Tyneside
  • Killingworth Lakeside Park, North Tyneside
  • Marden Quarry Park, North Tyneside
  • Northumberland Park, North Tyneside
  • Preston Cemetery, North Tyneside
  • Wallsend Parks, North Tyneside
  • The Rising Sun Country Park, North Tyneside
  • Cramlington Alexandra Park, Northumberland
  • Astley Park, Northumberland
  • Bolam Lake Country Park, Northumberland
  • Carlisle Park, Northumberland
  • Castle Vale Park and Coronation Park, Northumberland
  • Doctor Pit Park, Northumberland
  • Druridge Bay Country Park, Northumberland
  • Eastwoods Park, Northumberland
  • Hexham Parks, Northumberland
  • Hirst Park, Northumberland
  • Plessey Woods Country Park, Northumberland
  • Ridley Park, Northumberland
  • Eden Lane Cemetery, Peterlee
  • Woodhouse Park, Peterlee

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  • Monkton Dene Park, South Tyneside
  • North Marine Park, South Tyneside
  • Readhead Park, South Tyneside
  • South Marine Park, South Tyneside
  • West Park (Jarrow), South Tyneside
  • West Park (South Shields), South Tyneside
  • Barnes Park, Sunderland
  • Herrington Country Park, Sunderland
  • Hetton Lyons Country Park, Sunderland
  • Mowbray Park, Sunderland
  • Roker Park, Sunderland
  • Exhibition Park, Newcastle
  • Jesmond Dene, Newcastle
  • Leazes Park, Newcastle
  • Walker Park, Newcastle