Seven of Torbay’s parks have once again been recognised among the best in the country, earning prestigious Green Flag Awards for 2025. 

The seven Green Flag Awards complement the seven Blue Flag awards our equally stunning beaches have been awarded this year.

The Green Flag Award Scheme rewards well-managed parks and green spaces which meet the environmental charity’s standards of beauty, facilities and maintenance.  

The parks which have earned the Green Flag award are:

• Babbacombe Downs 
• Clennon Lakes 
• Princess Gardens (including Royal Terrace Gardens) 
• St Mary’s Park 
• Stoodley Knowle Meadows 
• Tessier Gardens 
• Cockington Country Park (managed by Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust)

SWISCo, who manage six of the award-winning parks and open spaces on our behalf, work year-round with a dedicated team of community volunteers and ‘Friends of’ groups. Together they actively maintain and improve Torbay’s green spaces that are enjoyed for both recreation and exercise by two-legged and four-legged creatures alike.

Three parks also received Green Heritage Site Accreditation. This award is supported by Historic England and celebrates the management and promotion of their historic features. These parks are:

• Princess Gardens
• Royal Terrace Gardens
• Tessier Gardens

Each of the seven award-winning parks offers something unique:

• Babbacombe Downs: A clifftop promenade with year-round floral displays and panoramic views over Babbacombe Bay.
• Clennon Lakes: Features four ponds, nature trails, and sightings of swans, ducks, kingfishers, and herons.
• Princess Gardens: A Grade II listed heritage garden with vibrant flowerbeds, a water fountain, and community events all year.
• Mary’s Park: Located in Higher Brixham, this park includes bowling greens, tennis courts, wildflower areas, and a children’s play zone.
• Stoodley Knowle Meadow: Home to a community café, a play area, and wildflowers planted by the Friends of Stoodley Knowle.
• Tessier Gardens: A quiet, adult-only park featuring a Sun Temple, a Dementia Friendly Sensory Garden, and diverse plant life.
• Cockington Country Park: Spanning 450 acres, the country park estate includes ornamental lakes, woodlands, gardens, a manor house, traditional cottages, and an 11th-century church.

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.

The award is a testament to the beauty of the Bay, as well as the year-round hard work of SWISCo, volunteers, residents, and Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust.

 

Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said:

“Congratulations to everyone in Torbay who has worked tirelessly to ensure that it achieves the high standards required for the Green Flag Award.

“Crucially, these are vital green spaces for communities in Torbay to enjoy nature, and during the ongoing cost of living crisis it is a free and safe space for families to socialise. It also provides important opportunities for local people and visitors to reap the physical and mental health benefits of green space.”