A NATURE reserve in Malvern will be proudly flying the 'Green Flag' after receiving the prestigious honour for the first time.

St Wulstan's Local Nature Reserve, in Upper Welland, has received the Green Flag Award - recognising the finest parks and green spaces in the country - from Keep Britain Tidy.

Recipients of the award are allowed to proudly fly the 'Green Flag' overhead, signalling that they boast the highest possible standards of maintenance and excellent facilities.

Two more county council sites - Waseley Hills Country Park near Rubery and Worcester Woods Country Park - have also received the award.

Cllr Lucy Hodgson, the local representative on Worcestershire County Council and cabinet member for localism and communities, said: "We’re absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award for three of our sites for another year.

"This award recognises and highlights that people in Worcestershire are benefiting from green spaces of the very highest quality.

"The Green Flag is the national standard for parks and open spaces, and this shows Worcestershire County Council can yet again provide excellent countryside recreation facilities and opportunities to our visitors from Worcestershire and further afield."

International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme, especially as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the awards.

“All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”