HERMITAGE Park in Helensburgh has been named one of Scotland’s best green spaces...for the fifth year in a row.

Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful have presented the park with a Green Flag Award – recognising it as a clean, safe and well-maintained space.

The green space retained its award-winning status after it underwent a £3 million renewal, financed by the National Lottery's Heritage Lottery Fund and other local and national bodies, breathing new life into the park after years of steady decline.

The regeneration project, a partnership between Argyll and Bute Council and the Friends of Hermitage Park Association, included the construction of a new pavilion, the restoration of the A-listed war memorial and the upgrading of shrubs, flower beds and paths.

The prize awards outdoor spaces that allow people to exercise, improve visitors’ mental wellbeing and provide safe spaces to play.

The award also hopes to promote places that add to Scotland’s biodiversity and contribute to the country’s goal to become net zero by 2045.

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Jamie Ormiston, training and accreditation coordinator at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Congratulations to our winner in Argyll and Bute.

"Receiving this prestigious award recognises all the hard work that has gone into maintaining and managing these precious green open spaces.

“What is most pleasing is the number of consecutive winners we have once again, showcasing the parks’ longevity and desire to continually be a welcoming and environmentally friendly place for all.

“Scotland is facing a biodiversity crisis, but these green spaces provide a space for everyone to reconnect with nature and I encourage everyone to do just that this summer.

“Green spaces are so important for our physical and mental wellbeing and it’s fantastic to see such a wide range of parks and green spaces across the entire length of the country.”

A total of 80 green spaces in Scotland have won a Green Flag Award for 2024.

Across the UK there were 2,228 winners, a record number and up 11 from 2023’s total of 2,216.