SIX of Bradford Council’s parks have received a Green Flag Award - and for one this is the 20th year it has been awarded the accolade.

The awards, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities, recognise well-managed parks and green spaces.

Lister Park in Manningham was first created in 1870, after the land was sold to Bradford Corporation in 1870 by industrialist Samuel Cunliffe Lister on the condition it was used to make a public park.

It has gone through many changes over the years, including having its own lido from 1915 until the 1980s and creation of a Mughal Water Garden in recent years.

More recently a new play area has been opened in the park.

it has today been revealed that the park has received a Green Flag Award for the 20th time.

The Green Flag Awards are also celebrating their 25th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion buildings across the country will be lit up green tonight, including Bradford's City Hall and Margret Macmillan Towers.

Central Park in Haworth, Cliffe Castle Park in Keighley, Harold Park in Low Moor, Peel Park and Roberts Park in Saltaire have all also received a Green Flag Award.

GALLERY: Mayor officially opens Lister Park's refurbished play area

Cliffe Castle Park has also retained its Green Heritage Site Accreditation, an award supported by Historic England, for the management of its historic features.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Porfolio Holder for Healthy People and Places, said: “Over the last 18 months or so, parks have provided many people with a massive boost to their mental and physical health, especially during the early days of lockdown.

"They give us access to green spaces, trees and fresh air, which provide a great sense of wellbeing. The Green Flag Awards are a testimony to the hard work and commitment of our Parks and Green Spaces teams who maintain these sites and keep them looking clean, attractive and welcoming.”

Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making the six Bradford parks worthy of Green Flag Awards.

“To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure that these parks have high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and is a place that supports people to live healthy lives.”