THE hard work of Tynedale’s communities has been recognised on the world stage.

Hexham and Prudhoe both received the prestigious Green Flag Award for respective projects which caught the eyes of judges.

Eastwoods Park in Prudhoe raised the flag for the first time, while St. Andrew’s Cemetery in Hexham was awarded for a third consecutive year.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the UK and around the world.

The Mayor of Hexham, Coun. Bob Hull paid tribute to the dedication and hard work of Steven English and his team of staff, who have maintained the cemetery grounds to an incredibly high standard, especially during a global pandemic.

And for one night only, Hexham Abbey was lit up green in celebration of the award, along with other buildings and landmarks across the UK, including the White Cliffs of Dover, the London Stadium, and Salford’s Media City.

Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: "This year, more than ever, our parks and green spaces have been a lifeline and we know that millions of people have used them to relax, meet friends, exercise or simply escape for a short time.

"It is testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of parks staff and volunteers that, despite the challenges that went along with record numbers of visitors, Hexham Town Council has achieved the highest international standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

In Prudhoe, the Friends of Eastwoods Park registered charity has worked alongside Northumberland County Council to transform the park into a first class community asset, which was strengthened even further by the opening of the Miners’ Lamp Community Cafe and Hub last year.

Russ Greig, Secretary of the Friends of Eastwoods Park said the award was extra special after a challenging 2020, which has seen volunteer activity curtailed due to the pandemic, and increased focus on its community food bank.

He added: "We weren’t overly hopeful of achieving the award this year, but would have provided a benchmark for future years to improve on, so to hear that the park was awarded a Green Flag is a phenomenal achievement for everyone who has made it happen, including the council's neighbourhood team, our volunteers and the community who see value in the park now.

"We received some great feedback from the judges which means we also have some areas of improvement and something to work towards with the county council to ensure that our park is a great place for our community and everyone to enjoy.

"We’re delighted that our work at the Miners Lamp also received praise for our community involvement, and work in reducing food going to landfill.”

The Friends of Eastwoods Park owns and operates the Miners Lamp Community Cafe and Hub, providing a food bank, school uniform bank, pay as you feel market and cafe. The organisation operates a number of programs from the Miners Lamp aimed at supporting those facing financial hardship and food poverty.

Both Prudhoe and Hexham are well worthy of praise.

On Tuesday night, Hexham Abbey, alongside other buildings and landmarks across the country, was lit up green, to celebrate the success.

In Prudhoe, the Friends of Eastwoods Park have worked alongside Northumberland County Council to transform the park into a first class community asset, which was strengthened even more by the opening of the Miners’ Lamp Community Cafe and Hub in 2019.

Russ Greig, secretary of the Friends of Eastwoods Park, a registered charity, said: “To hear that the park was awarded a Green Flag is a phenomenal achievement of everyone who has made it happen, including the council’s neighbourhood team, our volunteers and the community who see value in the park now.”