Published: Friday 28th July 2023 | 12.07pm
Cannock Chase Council is supporting the national Keep Britain Tidy campaign ‘Love Parks Week’.
The annual campaign runs from 28 July to 6 August and celebrates parks, green spaces, and the dedicated volunteers and Council staff that look after them all year round.
In Cannock Chase District we are lucky that we have dedicated volunteers that provide free community activities and events, as well as help the Council to maintain our parks and open spaces and ensure they thrive with all year-round activities for the local community.
During the week, there are a number of activities taking place across the District as part of the campaign.
Story Walks will take place across the summer at Elmore, Hednesford, Cannock and Heath Hayes Park linked to the Summer Reading Challenge.
Tree and insect activities will take place in Elmore Park on Thursday 3 August, places need to be booked through Vysons Youth Service.
Bee Walks for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust are taking place in Cannock Stadium Park and Ravenhill Park (please contact Lynn Evans for more information).
The SPACE scheme with Achieving Goalz and Dreams has activities across Cannock and Hednesford Park and Pye Green Stadium this summer.
The Friends of Heath Hayes Park are hosting a Family Day on Thursday 3 August in Heath Hayes Park.
There is a Dementia Friend Session in Hednesford Park Pavilion on Sunday 6 August from 10.30-11.30am.
Earlier this month we received the news that six of the parks and green spaces across the District had won the prestigious Green Flag Awards and Castle Ring had retained the Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, for the management of its historic features.
In March this year Council’s Cabinet approved a four-year improvement plan for play areas and open-spaces across the District.
However, play area and open-spaces upgrades can only take place where funding has been secured. As these improvements are completed, other play areas and parks will be added to the list, to create a rolling programme.
In the past 12 months play areas have been improved at The Cema open-space and play area in Norton Canes and Barnard Way, Wellington Drive play areas, and the Cannock Chase Stadium in Cannock. Work is currently taking place at Laburnum Avenue and there is a consultation taking place for improvements to the Barnard Way play areas in Cannock. Further development work is also continuing on Cannock Chase Stadium and initial scoping work is taking place on Cannock Park, Heath Hayes Park and Norton Canes recreation ground.
Councillor John Preece, Portfolio Leader for Parks, Culture and Heritage said “The aim of this campaign is to get people outdoors and connect with nature. Our parks and green spaces bring communities together and are essential for both our health and wellbeing.
“We need to respect and protect our parks and green spaces, so they remain loved, accessible places for everyone to enjoy for years to come.”
Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said: “The Love Parks campaign would not be possible without the backing of our local authority partners.
“This week is an opportunity for everyone to recognise the value of our parks and green spaces for communities, health and wellbeing, and to encourage groups within our communities that may not think of parks as a space for them to visit.”
This year’s campaign is made possible thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
If you’d like to volunteer in any of our parks, please contact Lynn Evans via email at lynnevans@cannockchasedc.gov.uk