FOUR Kirklees parks have been listed among the country’s best green spaces.

Huddersfield’s Beaumont Park, Crow Nest Park in Dewsbury and Wilton Park in Batley are to be presented with the prestigious Green Flag Award.

They join Oakwell Hall Country Park, Birstall, which has been retained its Green Flag Award for a superb seventh year.

And it’s a massive coup for Beaumont Park, which has recently undergone a massive transformation thanks to the council and its own Friends group.

Clr David Sheard, Kirklees cabinet member for streetscene, said: “Receiving these nationally-recognised awards is absolutely fantastic news.

“It is a great achievement and shows that our streetscene parks staff will go the extra mile despite difficult and stretched times to produce public spaces which are a credit to all those who organise and maintain them.

“Credit also goes to our three Friends groups which have undoubtedly helped the parks achieve Green Flag success.”

The Green Flag Award scheme was first launched in 1996 to recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country.

The award for Beaumont Park is reflected in the significant investment from the Heritage Lottery-fund to successfully restore the park’s bandstand to its former glory.

Parks acting charge hand John Mason said: “Beaumont Park is a delight and it is brilliant to see that our team effort has been recognised.”

Meanwhile Crow Nest Park has also seen recent refurbishment and development of a number of facilities including the museum, refurbished greenhouse and the adventure playground.

Park charge hand Clare Berry, added: “I don’t think it has sunk in. Until I see that flag up the flag pole I won’t believe it.

“It’s fantastic,” she added.

Both Wilton Park and Bagshaw Museum have also celebrated their centenary year with a series of events funded by the Heritage Lottery.

The first of the four flags will be raised at Beaumont Park today, before ceremonies at Crow Nest Park and Wilton Hall tomorrow.

Oakwell Hall will raise its latest Green Flag at the park on Thursday at 11am.