It’s time to pick the nation’s ten favourite parks

Voting for the annual People's Choice award which gives the public a chance to vote for their favourite Green Flag award winning park or green space, is open. But there is a difference this year as it is the 20th year of the Green Flag Award. There won't be one overall winner, there will be a top ten voted by the public.

Within Epsom & Ewell, four of our green spaces were among the record breaking 1,686 parks and green spaces that received the prestigious Green Flag Award this year - the mark of a quality park or green space. They include:

• Epsom Common Local Nature Reserve has won the award for the tenth consecutive year. It is the largest local nature reserve in Surrey and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
• Ewell Court Park has won the award for the fifth year in a row. The park is the former gardens of the historical Ewell Court House.
• Alexandra Recreation Ground has also won the award for the fifth year in a row. It is a sports ground situated in Alexandra Road.
• Rosebery Park has won the award for the fourth time this year. It is a formal town centre park.

To vote simply go to www.greenflagaward.org select the South East region on the interactive map, find your favourite Green Flag Award winning park or green space, click on more details and click the 'Vote for this Site' button.

The vote will close at noon on Friday 30 September. The ten most popular parks and green spaces in the UK will be announced in October.

Councillor Barry Nash, Chairman of the Council's Community and Wellbeing Committee said, "Our award winning spaces are broadly representative of all of the Borough's fantastic parks and green spaces that we are very proud of and that we know mean so much to everyone.

Don't miss out! This is your chance to vote for four of the Borough's Green Flag Award winning spaces and help pick the nation's top ten favourite parks."

Paul Todd, Green Flag Award manager said: "We all have a favourite park, whether it's our local green space or a special park we'll travel miles to visit.

"Following another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award, we are urging everyone to vote for their own favourite park, so we can put together a list of the ten most popular parks in the UK. It will be great to celebrate ten of the public's favourite parks and for them to become the People's Choice 2016."

All Green Flag Award-winning sites are entered into the annual People's Choice Award vote. Last year saw more than 30,000 votes from the public, with Victoria Park in London's Tower Hamlets crowned as the People's Choice.

For more information on the Green Flag Awards visit www.greenflagward.org

For more information on the Borough's parks and green spaces visit the Leisure section at www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk