A POPULAR park in Colchester has been named as one of the best in the country for a sixth year in a row. 

Wivenhoe Park has been named one of the UK’s top ten favourite green spaces after winning the Green Flag People’s Choice Awards for 2023. 

Members of the public voted for their favourite green spaces across the UK as part of the People’s Choice Awards with a total of 21,000 people casting their ballots.

Wivenhoe Park, one of 2,216 parks and green spaces in the UK which met the standards for the awards, has been part of the top ten since 2018. 

Grounds manager Mick Minshull said: “The University’s Colchester Campus is an amazing place to work and it gives me a great sense of satisfaction to know that we are providing an area of outstanding beauty for students and staff to take a break and enjoy the nature that is all around them.” 

Green Flag Award manager Paul Todd added: “Our parks and green spaces are essential to people’s wellbeing, and we know these free-to-access places will continue to be vital to communities. 

“To have achieved this recognition from the public is a testament to the tireless work by the parks staff and volunteers to make Wivenhoe Park a wonderful place that everyone can enjoy. 

“Our Green Flag Award winners include some of the country’s best-known and iconic parks as well as community green spaces and university campuses and canals. 

“We want to congratulate the University of Essex on its fantastic achievement.”