Hermitage Park in Helensburgh has won an international award for the sixth year in succession.
Democrat reporter
Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful has announced that the park has once again been presented with a Green Flag Award.
The International Green Flag Award acts as a benchmark for clean, safe and well-maintained parks and green spaces.
Administered in Scotland by Keep Scotland Beautiful, the award supports the opportunities that our green spaces provide to enable exercise, improve mental wellbeing and provide safe spaces for play.
This year’s total of 88 winners includes new and returning green spaces and is eight more than the 2024 Scottish total.
Edinburgh once again leads the way with 38 award-winning parks and green spaces, including parks run by the City of Edinburgh Council, NHS Lothian, Heriot-Watt University and Friends of Costorphine Hill.
Hermitage Park is the only award-winner in Argyll and Bute.
Jamie Ormiston, training and accreditation coordinator at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We’re delighted to announce the winners of the 2025 Green Flag Awards and even more so at the increase in numbers from last year’s total.
“It’s fantastic to see our stalwart parks across the country recognised once again for their commitment to environmental excellence and a desire to offer visitors a safe and enjoyable place to visit.
“Our new winners have shown a similar desire and their journey is only just beginning but I look forward to many more wins in the future.
“Parks across Scotland are vital spaces for people of all ages to reconnect with nature and I’m delighted we once again have winners all over the country – including plenty of new areas – for people to enjoy during the summer months.”