A coveted Green Flags has once again been awarded to Hitchin's Oughtonhead Common Local Nature Reserve, for the sixth year running.

The honour of Keep Britain Tidy's prestigious Green Flags continues to highlight our town's beauty spot.

The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces and having such areas on your doorstep is invaluable – but residents have particularly reaped the benefits in recent times with local nature reserves and parks playing a vital role for people through lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely.

Councillor Steve Jarvis, North Herts Council's Executive Member for Environment and Leisure said: "We are lucky to have such rich and diverse green spaces in the district all aiding our physical and mental wellbeing.

"We work closely with Countryside Management Service, John O'Conner Ground Maintenance and various volunteer Friends groups to keep these sites well maintained and thriving for people to enjoy and we are very pleased that these efforts have been acknowledged by the awards."

Green Flags have been awarded to green spaces in Letchworth.

The Green Flag Award scheme marks its Silver Jubilee (25-year anniversary) this year and is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the UK and around the world.