A park which had been neglected for more than 10 years is now officially one of the country's best thanks to the incredible work of volunteers to reveal its outstanding natural beauty to visitors while maintaining it as a wildlife haven.

Longsight Park in Harwood has been awarded the coveted Community Green Flag Award, the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Rivington Terraced Gardens which underwent a multi-million pound transformation was also recognised - with two prestigious 'Green Flag' awards.

The transformation of the park has been led by the Friends of Harwood and Longsight Park and has included new pathways, benches and much more.

Member of the voluntary organisation, Jane Wilcock said: "Thankyou to Friends of Harwood and Longsight Park who have put so much energy into improving this previously neglected park for over a decade.

"This is our fifth Community Green Flag Award and shows we have attained international park standards yet again.

"We started off cleaning up the park, filling the gap in decaying infrastructure due to reduced park budgets, balancing the flora and UK mammals habitats with people and moving the park up to an enjoyable experience for all."

She added: "Please volunteer with your nearest green space, give financially if able, encourage other parks to gain their Community Green Flags but mainly get out and enjoy our green spaces and make them welcoming for everyone."

Now people can enjoy the natural wonder of the park which is home to deer, foxes, otters, brown trout, kingfishers and even badgers and unusual and striking trees can be found in the arboretum, with part of the park classed as a site of scientific interest.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at friends of Harwood and Longsight Park on achieving a Green Flag Award.

"Longsight Park is a vital green space for communities in Bolton to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.

"We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Community Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.

"It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”

Rivington Terraced Gardens, managed by Rivington Heritage Trust with Groundwork received Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the management of historic features and a Green Flag Award.

Rivington Heritage Trust and Groundwork which manage the site said the award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space so that visitors and residents alike can enjoy it.

To achieve Green Heritage Site Accreditation, winners have to understand and take action to conserve the heritage value of their site. They also need to help people to understand and enjoy its unique history, from nationally important parks to local green spaces that help tell the story of places and communities.

The terraced gardens were created by industrialist and philanthropist Lord Leverhulme during the early 20th century and in their 1920s heyday, the gardens boasted lakes, waterfalls, pagodas, oriental tea houses and even a small zoo.

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The Friends of Longsight Park are transforming the beauty spot and wildlife haven blighted by vandalism

Rivington Gardens and Pigeon Tower restored bringing it back to life

In 2018 a £4.2m restoration of Rivington Terraced Gardens got underway.

The project was created after the discovery of three lost footpaths and was kickstarted by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Now the gardens are enjoyed by visitors throughout the year with volunteers continuing to maintain the area and share its fascinating history.

Erika Diaz Petersen, Historic England’s Principal National Landscape Adviser, said: “Historic parks, gardens, canals and other green heritage sites are at the heart of the network of public open spaces that are critical to our health and wellbeing, nature and the environment. The Green Flag Awards recognise the fantastic effort made and high standards achieved by parks professionals, community groups, volunteers and others across the country who look after these important places.

“At Historic England we are very pleased to support Green Heritage Site Accreditation in England, celebrating the achievements of Green Flag Award winners who care for, share and celebrate the heritage of their sites.”

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

A record-breaking 2,227 parks and green spaces, including 236 parks and green spaces across the North West, have reached the high standards required to receive a coveted Green Flag Award in 2024, environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy revealed today.