Express & Star

More than 60 sites across West Midlands and Staffordshire awarded Green Flag Award

More than 60 parks and open spaces across the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire have been named as Green Flag Award winners.

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Prubhjyot Singh, Audrey O’Connor, and Bob Fox celebrate the Green Flag award for the Main Line Canal

Locations from across the region scooped up the accolade which is the national standard – and benchmark – for green spaces across the UK.

And a total of 63 have received the status out across the three areas out of more than 2,000 in the awards, which were delayed due to Covid-19.

West Park in Wolverhampton is among four in the city to receive a Green Flag Award.

In Dudley, a total of eight spaces made the grade with Buffery Park, Huntingtree Park, Mary Stevens Park, Priory Park, Saltwells Nature Reserve, Silver Jubilee Park, The Leasowes and Wrens Nest National Reserve.

A further 13 made the grade in Sandwell – including Barnford Park, Brunswick Park, Dartmouth Park, Haden Hill Park, Lightwoods Park, Red House Park and Sandwell Valley Country Park.

The others included are Sandwell Valley Crematorium, Tipton Cemetery, Victoria Park in Smethwick and Victoria Park in Tipton. Warley Woods, run by the Warley Woods Community Trust, also claimed the status.

And the Canal & River Trust’s Main Line Canal, which runs from Birmingham to Smethwick, has been awarded a Green Flag Award – a first for the 250-year old Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN).

Victoria Park in Stafford

Adnan Saif, regional director at the Canal & River Trust, said: “It’s a testament to the hard work of local volunteers, partner groups and our colleagues to bring about so many improvements.”

Across Walsall, a total of seven spaces snapped up the accolade – with six council-run ones making the grade, including Blackwood Park, Fibbersley Local Nature Reserve, Kinghill Park, Palfrey Park, Rough Wood and Bentley Haye and Willenhall Memorial Park. Merrions Wood Local Nature Reserve – run by Merrions Wood Trust in partnership with the council – also scooped the award.

Wolverhampton’s Bantock Park, East Park, Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve and West Park – all maintained by Wolverhampton Council – also received the accolade.

Mary Stevens Park in Dudley snapped up the accolade.

Cannock Park, Castle Ring, Elmore Park, Hednesford Park, Ravenhill Park and Stile Cop Cemetery run by the district council were also winners.

In Stafford, Eccleshall Road Cemetery, Stafford Crematorium and Tixall Road Cemetery, Stone Cemetery, Stonefield Park, Victoria Park and Wildwood Park were recognised.

Baggeridge Country Park and Wom Brook Walk – both in South Staffordshire are also winners along with Brinton Park in Kidderminster and Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Gardens in Bewdley.

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