Six parks and green spaces receive Green Flag Awards

Cannock Chase Council have received six Green Flag Awards: for Cannock Park, Ravenhill Park, Elmore Park, Hednesford Park, Castle Ring Green Heritage Site, and Stile Cop Cemetery.

They are among 2,208 winners across the UK in this year 's Green Flag Awards. The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

After two years that have seen 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 our parks and open spaces have achieved the Green Flag Award, is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that make the green spaces a place that everyone can enjoy.

Castle Ring has also achieved the Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, for the management of its historic features.

Councillor Adrienne Fitzgerald, portfolio leader for housing, heritage, and leisure said: “I am delighted that our parks and open spaces have retained the Green Flag Award. It is important that our communities have parks and green spaces that they can enjoy. I would like to thank all of the volunteers, parks and grounds maintenance and cemetery staff for their continued hard work to achieve a prestigious Green Flag Award for another year running. ”

Commenting on the news, Keep Britain Tidy 's accreditation manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making our parks and open spaces worthy of a Green Flag Award.

“These parks are vital green spaces for the community in Cannock Chase District. This award is testament to all the hard work of staff and volunteers, who do so much to ensure that they maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. ”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Pictured (l - r): John Wolfie Jones, volunteer with the Friends of Hednesford Park, Councillor Martyn Buttery, chairman of Cannock Chase Council, Andy Williams, park keeper, and Jorgie Devey, a young volunteer from the Friends of Hednesford Park.