A PARK which is home to Essex University has been named one of the nation's favourite parks in a public vote.

Wivenhoe Park, home to the Colchester campus, beat off hundreds of other green spaces across the UK to be placed in the top ten in the UK in the Green Flag Award People's Choice.

Altogether, more than 1,500 parks were considered for the award.

Marcus Clayton, grounds manager at Essex University, said: “This year we’ve retained the Green Flag Award for the second year running, but to be voted top ten out of all the green spaces in the UK is absolutely fantastic.

"I’m lucky to be the custodian of this historic parkland – it’s a huge honour – and I couldn’t do it without my team.

“Over the last five years we have put in place a really ambitious plan to enhance Wivenhoe Park and I am delighted with the impact this is having on anyone who visits this amazing space.

"We’ve got lots of projects planned over the next year, including adding more picnic benches and new planting around our student accommodation to give students more outdoor social space. Everything we do is aimed at enhancing the experience.”

The park includes more than 200 acres and is a tranquil setting for the University’s campus community of more than 13,000 students and 2,300 staff.

Professor Anthony Forster, vice-chancellor at the university, said: “Marcus leads a grounds team which has done a superb job to ensure that the home of the University of Essex has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 10 favourite parks – and the perfect place not only to think big, but also to relax.

“Immortalised by the painter John Constable in 1816, the University is delighted to share our estate with visitors and I am sure our careful stewardship will ensure that Wivenhoe Park remains a special place and one of the nation’s favourite green spaces in years to come.”

The park is also home to a range of plants and wildlife including more than 2,800 trees, some of which are extraordinary examples of their species or have historic significance – including the cork oaks at Wivenhoe House which were grown from cuttings brought back from the Peninsular War by Major-General Francis Slater Rebow in 1814.