Dartmouth Community Garden is flying a Green Flag Award as one of the country’s best parks.

The award, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, is an international quality mark for parks and green spaces. The scheme is in its silver jubilee year.

Scheme Manager Paul Todd said: “I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in making the Dartmouth Community Garden worthy of a Green Flag Award.

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

Dartmouth Community Garden joins parks and green spaces as diverse as the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, Woodhouse Park in Peterlee and Chiswick Old Cemetery in London in receiving the award.

The national scheme 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.

Dartmouth Community Garden is maintained by Dartmouth Green Partnerships.

Partnerships chairman Stevie Rogers said: “We’re delighted to win this important award which is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.”

Green Flag judge Richard Taylor visited Dartmouth Community Garden in June.

In his feedback he said: “The whole garden area is well maintained by experienced and knowledgeable volunteers who know their plants and how they should be maintained. The various planted areas they tend have an overall Mediterranean feel which is compatible with Dartmouth’s horticultural seaside climate.

“The different horticultural aspects of their work provide floral attractions for locals and visitors alike. The group has created a horticultural haven which is admired and appreciated by locals and visitors alike who can go away with ideas that can be created in their own gardens.

“Sustainable materials are used wherever possible, including used greengrocer nets for bulb storage over winter. The group is aiming to reduce its reliance on peat compost mixes. Used compost is recycled by using it as a mulch or soil conditioner. Plastic pots are returned to the supplying nursery.”

He noted that DGP also maintains various former neglected areas around the town, provides hanging baskets for the community and makes use of unwanted boats for floral displays.

“The community garden and greenhouse areas are promoted through site noticeboards and a well-designed Dartmouth Green Partnership leaflet,” he added. “The dynamic group also has a Facebook page and website. The group is generally well known within the local community and regularly receives donations.”

Plans for the new community greenhouse were noted by the judge as an important step forward, “providing a useful community facility allowing educational facilities to take place”.

He also said: “The new greenhouse process has been a long and drawn-out affair with many obstacles having to be overcome. However, the group is very determined to overcome the various problems, which ultimately will prove very beneficial for the group, local communities, and visitors.

“The group has had to overcome many obstacles along their horticultural journey to reach their ultimate goal which is a huge credit to them. The group is very deserving of its Green Flag Community award.”

Green spaces that are freely accessible to the public are eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award. Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their status. A Green Flag Community Award recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups.