Rotherham's parks are among the best in the country.

Rosehill Park, Bradgate Park, Thrybergh Country Park, Rother Valley Country Park and, for the first time, Clifton Park, have received the Green Flag Award, a sign to visitors that the park is well-maintained and well-managed, with excellent facilities. 

The Rotherham five are among a record number of parks and green spaces across Britain receiving the Green Flag Award this year, ensuring that even more of us now have access to well-managed, high-quality green spaces.

In 2011, 1,288 parks and green spaces will fly either the Green Flag or Community Award, a sign that the value of green space is widely acknowledged as vital to our communities.

Coun Amy Rushforth, Cabinet Member for Lifelong Learning and Culture for Rotherham Borough Council, described it as "fantastic news." She added: "This is fantastic for everyone in Rotherham who cares about their parks. The authority has been working with partners for many years to improve the town's green spaces, and it is great that our achievements are being recognised in this way. Our aim now is to maintain these high standards."

Clifton Park has won its first Green Flag just months after the opening of the Garden House and Walled Garden which were the final stages in the £7.5 million park restoration funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund through their Parks for People programme.

Elaine Humphreys, Chair of the Friends of Clifton Park, said: "I am thrilled to hear about the park's success.  Our group has been working with the Council for ten years to help make Clifton Park the best in the region.  Anyone who has visited the park recently will know how well-deserved this award is.  I would urge anyone who has yet to see the changes for themselves to pay a visit this summer - it's the perfect place for a family day out."

Phil Barton, Green Flag Plus Partnership chairman said: "I would like to congratulate this year's winners, who have worked hard throughout the year to keep their parks and green spaces at a high standard and ensure they are pleasant and enjoyable spaces for the whole community.

"The Green Flag Award Scheme, and its growth, is essential in driving up the standards of our parks and green spaces.  Access to quality green space is something we all desire and the scheme plays a key role in providing it.

"In these challenging financial times it is heartening that the number of Green Flag Awards continue to grow.  As the value of green space and the role it plays in our communities strengthens, we must ensure these high standards remain."

All award-winning sites now have the chance to receive a further award from the Green Flag Plus Partnership, the People's Choice Award.  This award is voted for by the public, so if you want to see your local park receive a national accolade as the people's choice, then visit the Green Flag Award website now to register your vote.