CHESHIRE West and Chester Council is urging residents to show their support for the borough’s local parks and green spaces by voting for them as the nation’s favourite.

The Green Flag’s People’s Choice Award is an annual online vote that gives the public the power to decide which one of the 1,290 parks or green spaces flying the Green Flag Award or Community Award this year, should be named site of the year.

Seven sites across Cheshire West and Chester currently hold Green Flag status - the national standard for parks and green spaces - including Stanney Fields Park, Neston; Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port; Westminster Park, Chester; Helsby Quarry, Helsby, and Castle Park, Frodsham and Fury Wood, Winnington.

Executive Member for Culture and Recreation, Councillor Stuart Parker, said: “The People’s Choice Award for the best greenspace gives us a fantastic opportunity to showcase and recognise our seven very individual sites.

“In many cases dedicated local groups help the Council to maintain and develop their open spaces as green, sustainable and enjoyable as possible for all and dedicate a lot of their free time to maintaining the park.

“With so many Green Flag-flying sites across the country competition is going to be fierce so I urge everyone to get voting to see their local park in the running to pick up the award.”

1,142 parks throughout the UK currently fly the Green Flag Award, the benchmark for a well managed and well maintained park classed as one of the best green spaces in the country.

A further 148 sites have the Green Flag Community Award, which recognises high quality green spaces that are run by the local community and volunteers.

Voting closes at midday on September 12. The winner will be announced on the Wednesday, 21 September. To vote visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.uk/GreenFlag.

• Click North West in the Select your region section

• Click on the Cheshire link at the bottom of the page, a list of all areas within the whole of Cheshire will appear

• Click on your preferred location

• Click on your preferred greenspace which will bring up a box relating to that site.

• Finally click on the voting button and your vote is cast.