POPULAR south Buckinghamshire green spaces The Rye and Higginson Park have been awarded the Green Flag Award.

The Rye in High Wycombe and Marlow's Higginson Park impressed the judges with their use of green space, facility maintenance, and health and safety standards.

It is the second consecutive year The Rye has secured the gong, while the Green Flag has become a familiar sight in Higginson Park for the past seven years.

The award - run by environmental charities Keep Britain Tidy, BTCV and GreenSpace – recognises the best kept free to enter parks and public green spaces in the country.

Both popular green areas are run and maintained by Wycombe District Council.

Cabinet Member for Younger and Older People, Cllr Richard Scott said: "These awards reflect the high standards we have for the parks and green spaces across our district.

“To be given these national awards again reflects the continued hard work put in by the council, contractors and the local community to maintain this high standard.

“All our parks and green spaces are enjoyed by thousands of residents and visitors each year. They enhance the appearance of the district and bring pleasure to the people who use them."

A record number of Green Flags and Green Pennants, parks managed by voluntary groups, have been handed out to high-level parks this year.

1,200 green spaces have been recognised by the scheme, compared to 1,013 in 2009.

Paul Todd, Manager, Green Flag Award Scheme, said: "It's a remarkable achievement that so many parks have successfully reached Green Flag Award status this year.

“The staff running the parks work very hard throughout the year to ensure their facilities are maintained to a high standard and enjoyed by the entire community.

“As the recession bites and people look closer to home to enjoy the outdoors, the provision of high-quality, free open spaces is of particular importance.”

Visit www.greenflagaward.org.uk for more information.