TWO Keighley-area parks are once again flying the flag.

The town's Cliffe Castle Park, and Central Park at Haworth, have both retained their coveted Green Flag Award status.

And Cliffe Castle has also been declared a Green Heritage Site, an accreditation supported by Historic England, for the second year in succession.

To qualify for the heritage status, parks must meet good conservation standards, historic features have to be maintained and information provided for the public, and trees and plants should reflect the historical nature of the site.

The Green Flag Award scheme – managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – is recognised as setting an international benchmark standard for the management of parks and green spaces.

This year, a record 2,227 sites – including 93 across Yorkshire and the Humber – have achieved the status.

Keep Britain Tidy chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton, says: "Prioritising parks and green spaces is vital for our future, so we are delighted to see that 93 sites in Yorkshire and the Humber have met the standards required for a Green Flag Award, reflecting the tireless work of those tasked with looking after these important assets.

"We know that our local environment contributes to the wellbeing of individuals and communities, with our parks and green spaces recognised as areas where people can come together and be active. Research shows that time spent in green spaces can positively affect mental and physical health, quality of life and a sense of wellbeing.

"We believe the standards expected with the Green Flag Award should be a minimum for every park, and it is our ambition that by 2030 the number of sites achieving the status should be increased even further."

Other Bradford Council parks to be awarded the status are Lister Park, Roberts Park at Saltaire, Harold Park in Low Moor, and Undercliffe’s Peel Park.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, the council’s executive member for healthy people and places, says: "The Green Flag awards highlight the continued dedication and hard work put in over many years by our staff, friends groups and volunteers to make our parks and green spaces accessible and enjoyable places for everyone."

Paul Todd, the Green Flag scheme manager for Keep Britain Tidy, says: "I would like to congratulate everyone involved in achieving the awards.

"These parks provide vital green space for communities in the district."