St Helens celebrates Green Flag success as six parks earn national recognition
Six of St Helens Borough's loved parks have been officially recognised among the very best in the country after being awarded prestigious Green Flag status - the international benchmark for excellence in parks and green spaces.
Article date: 14 July 2026
St Helens Borough Council is celebrating after Bankes Park, Mesnes Park, Sutton Park, Taylor Park, Victoria Park and Sankey Valley Country Park were all awarded Green Flags for 2026, with Sankey Valley Country Park joining the list for the first time. The latest success means that six of the borough's green spaces are now among a record-breaking 2,391 parks and green spaces across the UK to achieve the coveted award this year, highlighting the quality, care and pride invested in St Helens' public spaces.
The awards are a tribute to the dedicated volunteers and community groups and council teams who work tirelessly throughout the year to ensure local parks remain welcoming, safe and vibrant places for residents and visitors alike.
Adding to the celebrations, the Friends of St Helens Cemetery have once again secured a Green Flag Community Award for the Memorial Gardens within St Helens Cemetery - their third consecutive success - bringing the borough's total number of Green Flag accolades to seven.
The Community Award recognises exceptional green spaces managed by volunteer and community organisations. The Friends group cares for the PITY 11 & Peace Garden, the Armed Forces Veterans Garden and several other key areas throughout the cemetery.
Councillor Michael Gibson, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, said:
"This is fantastic news for St Helens Borough and a proud moment for everyone involved in caring for our parks and green spaces.
"To see another of our wonderful parks achieve Green Flag status is a real achievement and reflects the passion, commitment and hard work of our staff and volunteers who go above and beyond all year round.
"While these awards celebrate six individual sites, they also recognise the consistently high standards being delivered across our parks network, and we're determined to build on this success by seeing even more of our green spaces achieve Green Flag recognition in the future.
"I'd especially like to congratulate the Friends of St Helens Cemetery, whose dedication and enthusiasm have once again been rewarded with a Green Flag Community Award.
"Our parks and open spaces are among our greatest community assets. They provide places to exercise, relax, connect with nature and spend time with family and friends, and we're incredibly proud that they continue to be recognised on a national stage.
"With more than 110 parks and open spaces and 67 play areas across the borough, there's never been a better time to get outside and discover everything our green spaces have to offer."
Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said:
"Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy. St Helens Borough Council has demonstrated what can be achieved when parks are given the care, support and investment they deserve. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces that are safe, welcoming, and maintained to a high standard. Congratulations to everyone involved."
Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Green Flag Award scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The scheme recognises and rewards the very best parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark for quality management across the UK and around the world.