Leamington's Jephson Gardens named as one of the nation's favourite parks

Leamington's Jephson Gardens has been named as one of the nation's favourite parks.

The popular park was given the award by the Fields in Trust following its ‘Nation’s Favourite Park’ campaign.

More than 30,000 votes were cast during the campaign across the nation as people voted for their favourite local spaces.

Those parks finishing in the top 20 per cent of the vote received the ‘Favourite Local Park’ award.

Jephson Gardens is also one of only eight parks in the whole of the West Midlands area to receive the award. The other winners in Warwickshire were Burton Dassett Hills, Hartshill Hayes and Ryton Pools.

Cllr Moira-Ann Grainger, portfolio holder for neighbourhood and leisure, said: “This award not only celebrates the fantastic and wide-ranging appeal of Jephson Gardens, but it also demonstrates how important parks and open spaces are to people.

"Particularly over the past couple of years they have been a real lifeline that give people a space to exercise and to connect with nature.

“I would like to give my thanks to all that voted, and to Warwick District Council’s Green Spaces team and our contractors idverde who work hard to make this park a stunning place to visit, no matter the time of year.

“Let’s see how many of the dstrict’s parks we can get on the list next year.”

Jephson Gardens also recently received its 16th consecutive Green Flag Award, the international quality mark for parks and open spaces.