A PUBLIC park in Derby famed for being the first in England has been awarded an honour for excellence for the sixth year running.
The Arboretum is one of three places in Derby and 19 in Derbyshire to be given a Green Flag Award. Two more won community awards.
The accolades are handed out annually to high-quality and well-managed parks and other green spaces.
The Arboretum, in Normanton, was the first publicly owned urban park in England and is believed to have been used as a model for Central Park, in New York.
Despite its grand beginnings, the park was subject to neglect and was a haunt of vandals and drug users for many years.
But it has been extensively refurbished after being awarded a National Lottery grant of £5 million in 2003.
Des Newman, of Alvaston, took wife Mhairi and four-year-old daughter Sacha to the park for the first time last week.
The 51-year-old said: "I used to live nearby some years ago.
"Since I've moved, its changed a lot, and all for the positive.
"I live in Alvaston now, but I wanted to show my daughter the park where I used to climb trees."
Mhairi, 44, said: "For me, it was nice to go to see where my husband played as a child.
"The facilities are fantastic – the play equipment is brilliant and the toilets are very well maintained."
Ingrid Clarke, also of Alvaston, said: "It's a lovely park. It's safe, with a nice café, and there's lots to do."
Claire Collard, of Allenton, was visiting the park for the first time.
She said: "We've never visited before but the kids love it because there's plenty to do."
The other two places in Derby to be given a Green Flag Award are Alvaston Park and Chaddesden Park – also winners in previous years.
Other winners in Derbyshire include Elvaston Castle Country Park, Shipley Country Park, Belper River Gardens and Heanor Memorial Park.
Across the UK, a record number of parks, cemeteries, university campuses and shopping centres – 1,476 in total – have been handed the award this year.
The Green Flag Awards, organised by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, are visited every year by 700 volunteer judges.
They assess every one of the parks against eight separate criteria, including cleanliness, sustainability and conservation.
Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: "It's another record-breaking year for the scheme.
"This is something well worth celebrating and testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.
"Parks are facing some tough challenges, so it is heartening to see that they are committed to maintaining and improving standards."
