Eight of the best: Borough celebrates prestigious Green Flag success
Eight parks and green spaces in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Kidsgrove have been named as some of the best in the country.
The venues managed and maintained by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council are among 2,391 sites in the UK to achieve the coveted Green Flag award.
Westlands Sports Ground has joined Bathpool Park, Bradwell Crematorium, Wolstanton Park and Marsh, Keele Cemetery, Brampton Park, Lyme Valley Parkway and Queens Gardens in receiving the prestigious national accreditation.
The Green Flag award scheme – managed by environmental charity Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – recognises well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard across the UK and around the world.
Ben Simpson, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council Cabinet member for Waste, Recycling and Green Spaces, said:
Eight Green Flags flying across our borough is a tremendous achievement and something every resident should be proud of.
These prestigious awards are not handed out lightly. They are national recognition that our parks and green spaces are welcoming, well cared for and among the very best in the country.
I am particularly delighted that Westlands Sports Ground has joined our growing list of award-winning sites following significant improvements in recent years, including the installation of the tennis courts and the creation of the woodland walk area.
This success belongs to the dedicated Council staff, volunteers and community groups who work tirelessly throughout the year to look after these treasured spaces.
We are proud of our parks, proud of the people who care for them and determined to keep raising standards so residents have excellent green spaces they can enjoy and take pride in.”
Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said:
Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy. Yet for millions of people, particularly in the most deprived areas, local parks simply don’t feel safe or welcoming.
With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it’s a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways to improve people’s quality of life.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like this that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard.
Congratulations to everyone involved."