Sandwell is proud to announce that in the latest national Green Flag Awards, 15 of our parks and green spaces have once again been recognised as well managed.
And we are even more pleased to announce that West Smethwick Park has joined them to win the prestigious standard!
The Green Flag Awards are an international scheme recognising well managed parks and open spaces and it sets the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
This week’s award ceremony for the West Midlands, as well as for the East of England and East Midlands, is being held in Sandwell for the very first time, which makes us even more proud to announce that we now have 16 award-winning parks and green spaces in Sandwell – a new record for the borough.
West Smethwick Park has recently benefited from a £5.1million restoration and improvement project supported by the National Lottery Fund’s Parks for People programme and Sandwell Council.
Investing in Sandwell’s green spaces
We’re investing £4.3m on 50 projects across 40 of our parks this year
Last year we invested £3.8m in parks and play areas, including £1.2m improving Britannia Park
We’ve put extra money in this year’s budget for tree maintenance and we’re helping biodiversity through tree planting and rewilding schemes
Sandwell Council Leader Councillor Kerrie Carmichael responded to the win:
“Over the past two years, Sandwell Council has made significant investment in its parks, play areas, outdoor sports facilities, nature reserves and other green spaces.
“This year we applied for the first time for West Smethwick Park, and we are delighted that yet another green space in Sandwell has been recognised to the highest standard.
“These are a vital green space for the community in Sandwell, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. We have a Green Flag park in each of our six towns, and we continue to invest in our green spaces as these are vital for leisure, exercise, health and wide range of community benefits.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff, Friends’ groups and community volunteers who help to make our green spaces among the best in the country.”
Sandwell Council and community organisations have been successfully applying to the Green Flag scheme over the last 23 years and the number of sites achieving the standards has increased over the years.
The following sites achieved the prestigious Green Flag standard:
Green Flag council parks
Brunswick Park, Wednesbury
Barnford Park, Oldbury
Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich
Haden Hill Park, Cradley Heath
Lightwoods Park, Bearwood
Red House Park, Great Barr
Sandwell Valley Country Park, West Bromwich
Victoria Park, Smethwick
Victoria Park, Tipton
West Smethwick Park, Smethwick
Other council services areas with Green Flag Awards:
Sandwell Valley Crematorium, West Bromwich
Fallings Heath Cemetery, Wednesbury
Tipton Cemetery
External partners with Green Flag Awards:Revolution Walk (Main Line Canal), Smethwick/Birmingham (managed by Canal & River Trust)
Lions of the Great War, Smethwick – a Green Flag Award Community Winner (managed by Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick)
Warley Woods, Bearwood (managed by Warley Woods Community Trust)
Discover your nearest award-winning park on the Visit Sandwell website.
Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in Sandwell who has worked tirelessly to ensure these sites achieve the high standards required for the Green Flag Award.
“Quality parks and green spaces like these make the country a heathier place to live and work, and a stronger place in which to invest.
“Crucially, these are vital green spaces for communities in Sandwell to enjoy nature. They also provide important opportunities for local people and visitors to reap the physical and mental health benefits of green space.”
The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.