TWO popular parks in Worcester have received prestigious green flag status.

Cripplegate Park and Gheluvelt Park have been given the awards, which show the mark of a quality park or green space.

Cripplegate Park is located to the west of the city on New Road - opposite the County Cricket ground and features stunning flower beds, separate play areas for toddlers through to teens, as well as tennis courts and bowling greens.

A nine-foot sculpture of a poppy was unveiled in the park earlier this year, created by Malvern artist Victoria Harrison, to honour the lives of the Worcestershire Yeomanry who were killed in battles in the Egyptian desert in 1916.

Earlier this year pupils from Perryfields Primary School in Worcester planted flowerbed displays to commemorate The Queen’s 90th birthday.

The green flag status is the second award this year for Gheluvelt Park, on Barbourne Road, after it received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for the first time in June.

The accolades also follow the park being named one of the top three favourite parks in the UK in the Fields in Trust national awards in December, following a public vote.

More than 950,000 people have visited the park in the last 12 months and seeing the specially commissioned war memorial feature, new play area, refurbished bandstand and Splashpad introduced as part of the major £1.4m makeover in 2010, funded from a Heritage Lottery Fund award.

The investment in the park is set to continue as the city council has committed £250,000 towards new facilities, planned to be introduced to the park next year.

Councillor Jabba Riaz, cabinet member for clean, green and leisure services, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received the green flag award for Cripplegate and Gheluvelt Parks once again.

“The city council is completely committed to maintaining the highest possible standards in Worcester’s parks and open spaces – both now, and in the future."

International green flag award scheme manager Paul Todd added: “All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the award.”