Cannock Chase Council is celebrating a major achievement after winning Planning Authority of the Year at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) West Midlands Awards for Planning Excellence 2026.

The award was presented at the RTPI West Midlands Planning Excellence Awards ceremony in Birmingham on 23 July, recognising the outstanding achievements of the Council’s Planning Service.

Aspiring athletes in Cannock Chase are set to gain vital support as part of a sports talent development programme.

Heath Week returns for 2026, running from Monday 27 July to Sunday 2 August, offering residents and visitors the chance to celebrate and explore the unique purple heathlands of Cannock Chase.

Organised to highlight the importance of this rare and beautiful habitat, Heath Week features a range of family-friendly activities designed to help people discover the rich wildlife of local heathlands, understand their ecological value, and learn how to help protect them for future generations.

Cannock Chase Council is proud to be supporting Love Parks Week 2026, with parks and green spaces across the district joining hundreds of locations nationwide in this annual celebration.

Running from 24 July to 2 August, Love Parks Week highlights the vital role parks play in supporting healthy communities, protecting the environment and bringing people together. It also recognises the dedication of those who care for and maintain these valued spaces.

Cannock Chase Council is celebrating after six of its parks and green spaces were once again recognised among the very best in the country through the prestigious Green Flag Award scheme.

Cannock Park, Castle Ring, Elmore Park, Hednesford Park, Ravenhill Park and Stile Cop Cemetery have all successfully retained their Green Flag Awards for 2026/27.

Castle Ring has also achieved the Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the management and promotion of its historic features.

Children, young people and families across Cannock Chase are being invited to enjoy a summer packed with free activities as the Cannock Chase Can Kids Club Summer Festival returns for its third year.

The festival will bring six weeks of fun, creativity and community spirit to locations across the district, with a varied programme designed to help children stay active, healthy and entertained throughout the summer holidays.

A free community event will take place on Monday 20 July, from 1pm–3pm in Cannock Park, to mark the official launch of the new Cannock Park Heritage Trail — a key milestone in the ongoing redevelopment works to enhance the park’s facilities, heritage features and visitor experience.

As part of the project, 10 new interpretation panels have been installed across Cannock Park and Cannock Park Golf Course, helping visitors explore the park’s history, nature and stories in an engaging and accessible way. These panels form part of three new interactive trails:

Cannock Chase Council is celebrating the success of its Bumblebee Friendly Schools Programme this term, with two local primary schools achieving national recognition through the Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s Bee Friendly School Award.

A total of 13 schools across the district have signed up to take part in the initiative, which supports children to learn about pollinators, biodiversity, and simple actions they can take to help bees thrive in their school grounds and at home.