Collett Park has been officially recognised as one of the best parks in the country.

Shepton Mallet Town Council is celebrating after receiving a Green Flag Award for the park, one of 2,208 UK winners. The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces, which makes Collett Park one of the best in the country.

After two years of lockdown, community parks and green spaces have demonstrated their vital role as a place to relax, exercise, and meet friends and family safely. Matt Harrison, Chair of Shepton Mallet Town Council, said, "We are delighted. The news that Collett Park has achieved the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that make this important green space a great place that everyone can enjoy. We hope to build on this success even further, with a programme of future improvements to the park."

Commenting on the news that Collett Park has met the Green Flag Award standard, Keep Britain Tidy's Accreditation Manager, Paul Todd, said: "Collett Park is a vital green space for the community in Shepton Mallet. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making the park worthy of a Green Flag Award. This award reflects the commitment of staff and volunteers, who do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award."

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.