Green spaces across borough gain quality mark glory
FIVE sites across Rotherham have been given the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
Green Flag Awards have been given to Rotherham Crematorium and Cemetery in East Herringthorpe, Clifton Park, Greasbrough Park, Rother Valley Country Park and Ulley Country Park.
Green Flag status for 2026 recognises high standards of care, maintenance and visitor experience in green spaces.
Rotherham Crematorium and Cemetery in East Herringthorpe has retained the award for a second consecutive year, after becoming the first burial site in the borough to achieve Green Flag status in 2025.
Clifton Park has again achieved Green Heritage Site status, recognising the care and promotion of its historic features.
The park has also been named a winner of the Green Flag People’s Choice Award 2026, having previously won the public vote in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Over the past year, £300,000 has been invested by Rotherham Borough Council in new and improved play facilities at Rother Valley Country Park and Thrybergh Country Park, while £800,000 has refurbished the café at Thrybergh.
Visitors to Rother Valley Country Park are also benefiting from the new Waterfront building, delivered through Government Pathfinder funding.
Cllr Lynda Marshall, cabinet member for waste services, leisure and green spaces, said: “We’re incredibly proud to see five locations across Rotherham recognised with Green Flag Awards.
“From our country parks and community green spaces to Rotherham Crematorium and Cemetery, these places play an important role in supporting wildlife, wellbeing and local communities.
“Having five Green Flag Award winners across the borough is a fantastic achievement and shows our commitment to protecting and improving the green spaces that residents value so highly.”
Paul Todd, Green Flag award manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it’s a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways to improve people’s quality of life.
“Rotherham Council have shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed.
“As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces that are safe, welcoming and looked after to a high standard.”
For information about the Green Flag Award scheme, visit www.greenflagaward.org.