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Grove House Gardens, Priory Gardens, Dunstable Cemetery and Bennett Memorial Recreation Ground have retained the prestigious Green Flag Award after achieving the international quality mark for parks and green spaces. This adds to Dunstable Town Council’s recent success being invited to be the Britain in Bloom entry for the County in 2026 which is due to be judged later this summer.
Grove House Gardens, Priory Gardens, Dunstable Cemetery and Bennett Memorial Recreation Ground are among only 2,391 parks and green spaces in the UK to achieve the award this year – a fantastic testament to the hard work, passion and dedication of the teams who care for these green spaces and manage a range of local events and facilities to ensure that the parks meet the needs of the local community.
When judges visited Priory Gardens they were impressed by the park’s outstanding floral displays, exceptional standards of horticultural maintenance and heritage interpretation, including the popular “Walk Through Time” rose covered pergola, which helps bring the site’s rich history to life.
Priory Gardens has also retained its Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the management and promotion of its historic features acknowledging the current restoration of Priory House a Grade II * Listed building which is the hub of the park and set to be fully restored and reopened in January 2027.
“Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy. Yet for millions of people, particularly in the most deprived areas, local parks simply don’t feel safe or welcoming. 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.
Dunstable Town 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 like this that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard. Congratulations to everyone involved."
Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy
This year, the Green Flag Award celebrates 30 years of setting the international standard for parks and green spaces. Over the last three decades, the scheme has been vital in ensuring communities everywhere have access to safe, clean, and beautifully maintained natural areas that boost local health and well-being.
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under contract from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
