East Devon District Council is pleased to announce that four of its parks have been honoured with the prestigious Green Flag Award for 2025. These parks are now formally recognised among the United Kingdom’s most exemplary public green spaces, serving as benchmarks for excellent standards in ecological management and visitor experience.

The four award-winning sites are:

·       Connaught Gardens, Sidmouth

·       Peak Hill Slope, Sidmouth

·       Manor Gardens, Exmouth

·       Seafield Gardens, Seaton

These parks are managed, respectively, by the Council’s Streetscene and Countryside teams. Their consistent high standards reflect the commitment of council staff and dedicated volunteers who maintain each space to ensure public enjoyment and ecological sustainability.

Highlights of each site

At Connaught Gardens in Sidmouth, the Streetscene team has upheld its horticultural excellence despite challenging coastal conditions—including poor soil quality, shaded areas, and sea air exposure. Volunteers from the Sidmouth in Bloom group have provided invaluable assistance in maintaining the gardens’ visual appeal.

At Manor Gardens in Exmouth, collaborative efforts between council staff and Exmouth in Bloom volunteers have resulted in consistently praised floral displays and vibrant planting schemes, earning accolades from Green Flag judges.

At Seafield Gardens in Seaton, the focus has been on sustainable planting and creating wildflower zones. A newly trained volunteer, supported by experience gained at Kew Gardens, has contributed significantly to planting improvements and biodiversity initiatives at the site.

About the Green Flag Award

The Green Flag Award is administered by Keep Britain Tidy under license from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. It is internationally recognised as a leading quality standard for parks and public open spaces. The accreditation process assesses criteria such as cleanliness, safety, biodiversity, community engagement, environmental management, and effective marketing.

For the 2025 Green Flag awards, an unprecedented 2,250 parks and green spaces across the UK have been selected, highlighting the increasing emphasis on high‑quality communal outdoor environments.