THE team of hard working people behind Wirral Country Park has been officially recognised in the 2024 Green Flag Best of the Best Awards. 

A record breaking 2,227 parks and green spaces achieved the Green Flag Award - the international quality mark for parks and green spaces – this year, with successful submissions from local authorities and other land managers across the country for a range of sites, from world-famous city parks to small, local green spaces. 

The national charity’s Best of the Best Awards recognise the unsung heroes behind the success of these beautiful green spaces, with a jury making the tough decision of who meets the criteria for each category. 

Joint winners in the Team of Year – Park Staff category was the rangers at Wirral Country Park who shared the award with Bradgate Park in Leicestershire.

Josef Hanik, manager of Wirral Country Park, said: "I'm so proud of them. A couple of the rangers I've known for over 20 years and they're specialists at what they do and they do it so well."

Green Flag Award Manager Paul Todd MBE said: "It’s only right that as well as celebrating the best parks in the country, we recognise the tireless work by the thousands of parks staff and volunteers to make their parks and green spaces wonderful places everyone can benefit from. 

“Parks are a crucial part of this country’s green infrastructure, providing free opportunities to access physical and mental health benefits even in the most built-up urban environments – and our Green Flag Parks would not be at the standard they are at without the hard work of volunteers, staff and other groups around the UK who look after them. 

“We’d like to congratulate to our worthy Best of the Best winners on their incredible achievements.”