North-east of England receives fewest Green Flag awards
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- North-east of England received just 57 Green Flag Awards, the lowest of any region, while Yorkshire got 90 and most regions surpassed 120
- North West topped the country with 217 awards, edging Greater London by two, as the scheme celebrated its 30th anniversary with a record-breaking national total
- Keep Britain Tidy said applying is up to individual local authorities, noting this year set a record for number of awards handed out nationally
- Northumberland County Council led the region with 14 Green Flags, including Hexham Parks, Druridge Bay Country Park, and Plessey Woods Country Park
- Durham County Council said it deliberately chose not to enter its main parks — including Riverside, Hardwick, and Wharton — instead prioritizing upkeep budgets over the awards process
- Newcastle City Council held four Green Flags and announced a £1.4 million investment in improvements to parks and green spaces across the city
- Darlington's South Park has held Green Flag status since 2006, while West Park has held it since 2015
Why it matters: Several North-east councils told the BBC they deliberately chose not to enter parks for Green Flags, with Durham citing a decision to prioritize maintenance budgets over award applications. That means the region's low tally of 57 — set against a record-breaking national total — may reflect strategic application behavior rather than the underlying quality of its green spaces.
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