In a record-breaking year, three country parks and two nature sites in Dorset have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award, including in the Dorchester area.

This week, Dorset Council is celebrating after receiving five Green Flag Awards, including for Thorcombe Woods and Black Heath and Hardy's Birthplace, near Dorchester, as well as Avon Heath, Stour Meadows, Milldown and Durlston.

The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces, and is testament to the hard work and dedication of the teams that care for these sites.

Durlston Country Park has also achieved the Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, for the management of its historic features.

Councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council's portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: "I am thrilled to hear that once again Dorset's country parks and green spaces are being rightly recognised as some of the best in the country.

"Regularly spending time in the outdoors has proven benefits for health and well-being, which is why it is so important that we take all the steps necessary at our countryside sites to maintain the high standards associated with the Green Flag status.

"These sites will also play a critical role in our efforts to make nature bigger, better and more joined up in our county."

Keep Britain Tidy's Green Flag Award scheme manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: "I would like to congratulate everyone involved in achieving these Green Flag Awards.

"Country parks and nature sites are vital green spaces for the community in Dorset, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles.

"The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure they maintain the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement."

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, 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.

A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available on the Keep Britain Tidy website.