Stafford parks hit judges for six in national award

Six venues in Stafford Borough have again been listed among the best parks and open spaces in the UK.

Victoria Park in Stafford leads the way with a 17^th consecutive ‘Green Flag’ while the crematorium on the town’s Tixall Road makes it a dozen, and the 160-year-old cemetery at Eccleshall Road claims a sixth flag.

Stonefield Park in Stone is celebrating an eighth success, with the town’s cemetery bringing up award number five. And finally, Wildwood Park in Stafford makes it a fourth year - by retaining the flag they won for the first time in 2020. 

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. 

And the six Stafford Borough sites were among hundreds of UK winners this year. 

Councillor Ian Fordham, Cabinet Member for Environment at Stafford Borough Council, said: “A big thank you to all those who do excellent work on the ground and behind the scenes to ensure our parks and green spaces are worthy of this award. 

“It is pleasing to have independent feedback from a national organisation about how well maintained and managed these important green spaces are - although this is something already recognised by the thousands of local people and visitors who use them. And they are our most important judges. 

He added: “We should also not forget the contribution of the community, especially the ‘Friends’ groups, that support the work of the council at these sites and are instrumental in us receiving these ‘Green Flags.’” 

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd MBE said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in Stafford Borough in achieving these Green Flag Awards. 

“They are vital green spaces for the community in the borough, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”  

Any green space that is freely accessible to the public is eligible to enter the scheme, with Green Flag Awards presented each year.