Published: Friday 15th October 2021 | 12.50pm
In a record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award, as the scheme marks its Silver Jubilee, six parks and green spaces in Cannock Chase are some of 2127 celebrating success.
The Council is raising a Green Flag Award at Cannock Park, Elmore Park, Hednesford Park, Ravenhill Park, Stile Cop Cemetery and Castle Ring.
The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
After 18 months that have seen our parks and green spaces play a vital role for people through lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely, the news that these sites have achieved the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that make our green spaces a space that everyone can enjoy.
Castle Ring has also achieved the much-coveted Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, for the management of its historic features.
Councilllor Adrienne Fitzgerald Portfolio Holder for Housing, Heritage and Leisure said “Parks, open spaces and cemeteries have been opened and maintained since the lockdown began, as the Government quite rightly indicated the importance of parks to people’s health and wellbeing. I am therefore not at all surprised that research by YouGov, on behalf of Keep Britain Tidy, over the summer, revealed that having access to a quality park or green space helped improve people’s mental health with almost six in ten (59%) saying they felt less stressed when using the park and 55% saying they felt more positive in general.
“That’s why it’s important as a Council that our main parks are managed to the Green Flag Award standard. I would like to thank all of the volunteers who have worked alongside our parks, grounds maintenance and cemetery staff that have continued to work throughout the pandemic that have clearly contributed to these fantastic awards being retained by Cannock Chase Council.”
Paul Todd, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager said “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making Cannock Park, Elmore Park, Hednesford Park, Ravenhill Park, Stile Cop Cemetery and Castle Ring worthy of a Green Flag Award.
“To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure that they all have high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and they are places that supports people to live healthy lives.”
Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “As Green Flag Award celebrates 25 years of raising the standard, Keep Britain Tidy is delighted to be the custodian of a scheme that does so much to ensure our parks and green spaces go from strength to strength.
“At a time when parks have been at the heart of every community across the country it is perhaps not surprising that 95% of the public thinks that their local parks and green spaces need to be protected.
“This is why the Green Flag Award is so important. It ensures that parks and green spaces are managed to the highest standards and are safe and accessible for everyone to enjoy and we look forward to the next 25 years.”