25 November 2025
The Green Flag Award is delighted to announce that the winner of this year’s prestigious ‘Best of the Best’ award for UK Team of the Year – Park Staff is Hyndburn Borough Council’s Parks Department.
The Green Flag Award is delighted to announce that the winner of this year’s prestigious ‘Best of the Best’ award for UK Team of the Year – Park Staff is Hyndburn Borough Council’s Parks Department.
This accolade recognises a year of exceptional initiative, strategic investment, and deep community impact, which saw the department secure a record-breaking 11 Green Flag Awards—the highest achievement of any district in Lancashire. This success is a testament to years of strategic planning and a commitment to balancing horticultural excellence with profound ecological and social resilience.
Strategic Investment Meets Heritage
The Hyndburn Parks Department demonstrated an impressive ability to manage each of its diverse green spaces as a unique asset. A standout achievement was the comprehensive, heritage-led regeneration of Memorial Park in Great Harwood.
Supported by major funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Lancashire Environment Fund, and Hyndburn Council, this project successfully balanced conservation and modernisation, restoring historical features while simultaneously enhancing biodiversity and accessibility. The result is a tranquil space that honours the past while meeting contemporary community needs.
Innovation in Sustainability and Inclusion
The team did not simply maintain their spaces; they reimagined them as platforms for environmental and social change. Despite navigating challenges like funding constraints, aging infrastructure, and climate resilience planning, the department delivered bold, innovative outcomes:
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Ecological Resilience: The team expanded native planting schemes to support pollinators, managed invasive species with precision, and championed climate-conscious horticulture by repurposing green waste to enrich soil health. They also supported large-scale tree planting schemes, directly contributing to the borough’s net-zero goals.
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Inclusive Design: A strong focus on accessibility was evident across multiple sites, including the revamp of Knuzden Recreation Ground with a multi-use ballcourt and inclusive play equipment. Maintenance and upgrades were carried out across 24 play areas with a firm focus on ensuring safe, welcoming access for all users.
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Community Co-Creation: The department empowered local groups, such as the Friends of Memorial Park, to shape improvements, fostering civic pride and ensuring that enhancements truly reflected local needs. This commitment extended to managing Community Food Growing Areas, supporting food resilience and community wellbeing.
A Model for Park Management
The Parks Department’s dedication extends to the management of Local Nature Reserves like Peel Park & the Coppice and Woodnook Vale, alongside vital woodland improvements across sites such as Foxhill Bank and Clayton Forest Park.
Their achievements prove that when a parks department commits to strategic investment, sustainability, and community-led stewardship, green spaces evolve into places not just to visit, but places where communities thrive. The Hyndburn Parks Department has set a new benchmark for excellence across the county and beyond.
Congratulations to Hyndburn Borough Council’s Parks Department on being crowned the Green Flag Team of the Year!
