SCOTLAND’S treasured green spaces are going to the polls - and Helensburgh's Hermitage Park is in with a chance of being named the best in the country.

Voting has opened to choose the UK’s top award-winning parks which recently received a Green Flag from environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful.

The People’s Choice vote allows members of the public to have their say, selecting their favourite from more than 70 Scottish parks with a Green Flag Award this year.

Following expert-led judging, Scotland has 77 parks to choose from including spaces managed by community groups, universities and local authorities.

Last month, Hermitage Park was awarded the prestigious Green Flag honour - the only park in Argyll and Bute which earned the recognition in 2020.

READ MORE: Hermitage Park volunteers delighted as Green Flag status is secured

Voting for the nation's favourite opened on October 30 and runs until November 25 with winners announced on December 3. To vote for your favourite, simply find it on the map at www.greenflagaward.org and click on the vote button.

Last year, Strathaven Park in South Lanarkshire placed in the top 10 for the sixth time in seven years and was awarded the accolade of 'Scotland’s favourite park'. This year, parks stretching from the Western Isles to the Scottish Borders are all in with a chance.

Jamie Ormiston, beaches and parks officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Living through a pandemic has made this year particularly challenging, and it has shown us the vital role our green spaces play to our health and well-being.

"The Green Flag Award acknowledges the hard work that goes on to keep these important green spaces available for us to enjoy.

“We encourage everyone to vote for their favourite Green Flag awarded park and we look forward to finding out the results later this year.”

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