AN AWARD normally set aside for parks and green spaces will be awarded to the University of Bradford on Friday.

The university will be given a Green Flag Award for its campus, making it one of just 10 universities in the country to get the honour.

It also places the campus in the same category as much loved Roberts Park in Saltaire and Lister Park in Manningham.

The flag will be placed next to the Horton building at an event that will be attended by vice chancellor of the university Brian Cantor and Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds.

The award recognises the best, most well managed green spaces, which in this case includes the open spaces on the campus, off Great Horton Road and home to The Green student accommodation as well as the university classrooms and Student's Union building.

Chris Mudd, estates manager at the University of Bradford said: “We are very proud to receive this external recognition of the quality of our grounds and to be one of only 10 UK universities to fly the Green Flag.

“The Main Campus is an asset to the city of Bradford, and is valued by local people as well as our students and staff. The award reflects the hard work that our dedicated staff put in to maintaining the University grounds to the highest standard.”

The Green Flag judges noted that the campus accommodates different activities including sports, places to sit and relax, places to walk and amphitheatre for events and is well maintained and pleasant to walk around.

Other venues in the city with a Green Flag status include Peel Park and Lister Park in Bradford, Roberts Park in Saltaire, the St Ives Estate in Bingley, Central Park in Haworth and Harold Park in Low Moor.

At Friday's ceremony, Cllr Dodds will be given a tour of the grounds to see for herself the work put in by the staff at the university in creating the green space for their students.

Recent years have seen much of the open space on the campus transformed, and many of its buildings have been made to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

Earlier this summer it was named as one of the top ten best green universities in the world, and top in the UK.

Cllr Dodds said: "We’ve some fantastic green spaces in Bradford. Six of our parks have been awarded Green Flag status this year, and for the University of Bradford to be also awarded this prestigious prize makes it all the more special.”

The ceremony begins at the University's Bright Building at 2.30pm.