Ayrshire garden centre ‘delighted’ with international Green Flag Award as parks across region honoured

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Green spaces across Ayrshire have been honoured with a top accolade.Five parks in South Ayrshire – Belleisle Park, Rozelle Park, Fullarton Estate, Newton Park and Ayr Cemetery – and Auchinleck Community Development Initiative’s The Knowe Garden Centre in East Ayrshire were all presented with a Green Flag Award.The international Green Flag Award, administered by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, celebrates well-maintained parks and greenspaces, and supports the opportunities that they provide to enable exercise, improve mental wellbeing and safe areas for play.The parks were amongst 2,208 across the UK achieving the status this year – with a record 85 announced in Scotland.Kaye Hannah, garden centre manager at Auchinleck Community Development Initiative, said the award “means a lot” after the charity transformed a 2.5-acre piece of waste ground into a well-stocked community garden, which is complete with pollinator plants, shrubs and carbon-busting trees.Kaye said: “The board, staff and volunteers are proud and delighted to get this recognition for everyone who has contributed over the years.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you can customise your page with the sections that matter to you.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now on iOS and Android.“Our garden is for the whole community to enjoy; we host community social events, provide job and volunteering opportunities and training in horticulture and gardening.“It is a peaceful and relaxing place for everyone to enjoy in