Falmouth's two most prominent public gardens have retained their Green Flag status - an accolade that has been put down to the hard work and dedication of the staff and volunteers who keep them in tip-top condition.

Gyllyngdune Gardens and Queen Mary Gardens are two of four parks in Cornwall to received the prestigious award this year - the others being Victoria Park in Redruth and Morrab Gardens in Penzance. The Falmouth gardens are cared for by Cormac's gardens' team who work in collaboration with Falmouth Town Council and a band of volunteers from the community.

Falmouth's mayor, Grenville Chappel said of the awards: "This is fantastic news. The Green Flags are a great asset to the town and are important for tourism. I would like to thank all the staff and volunteers for their hard work - it's down to them that we have achieved this once again."

Cornwall councillor Sue James, portfolio holder for environment and public protection, said: “Running a park that is well-used and valued by its community is about more than just cutting the grass. Effective management and the use of skilled staff, along with support of the local community, are key to creating fantastic public parks. The Green Flag Awards are public recognition of that.

“Access to good quality green space is vital if we are to tackle some of the challenges that we face, including the growing problem of obesity, the rise in mental health issues and the feelings of being disconnected from the communities in which we live. Research shows that having well-managed, accessible green space contributes to tackling many of these issues.”