Canbury Gardens, Churchfields Recreation Ground, Manor Park and Fishponds Park have been awarded Green Flag status, while the Queen's Promenade Friends group has been bestowed another Green Flag Community Award.

The news comes as the internationally recognised standard for parks and green spaces celebrates its 30th year.

Canbury Gardens, Churchfields Recreation Ground, Manor Park and Fishponds Park are among a record breaking 2,391 in the UK to achieve the award this year.

The Queen's Promenade Friends group is also celebrating as it has received a Green Flag Community Award for a fourth year in a row.

The council said: "Their hard work and dedication has helped transform Queen's Promenade into a beautiful stretch of riverside which is enjoyed by thousands of residents and visitors to Kingston."

Councillor Mike Massimi, portfolio holder for climate action, biodiversity and regulatory services, said: "This is a fantastic achievement for Kingston and something everyone involved should be genuinely proud of.

"Winning a Green Flag isn't automatic, it reflects the work that goes into these spaces all year round, often unnoticed.

"Our parks are where children play, where people go to clear their heads after a hard day, and where neighbours actually get to know each other.

"They're also increasingly important for wildlife, holding onto a bit of nature in the middle of an urban borough. Having four parks recognised nationally is brilliant on its own.

"Add a fourth consecutive Community Award for the Queen's Promenade Friends group, and that's no coincidence, it's what happens when people care about where they live.

"I'd like to thank everyone who's played a part in this; the volunteers giving up their time, and the park teams and council officers doing the less visible work behind it. "These awards belong to all of them."

Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, added: "Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy.

"Yet for millions of people, particularly in the most deprived areas, local parks simply don't feel safe or welcoming.

"With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it's a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways to improve people's quality of life.

"Kingston's winners have shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed.

"As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like this that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard. Congratulations to everyone involved."

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under contract from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.