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

A new wildflower area at the 160-year-old cemetery at Eccleshall Road in Stafford helped them to a seventh consecutive ‘Green Flag’ - with the town’s Victoria Park leading the way by making it their 18th flag in a row, while the crematorium on Tixall Road claimed a 13th flag.

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

The accreditation is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces - and the six Stafford Borough sites were among hundreds of UK winners this year.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved on achieving a Green Flag Award.

“These are vital green spaces for communities in Stafford Borough to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.

“It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, 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.

Councillor Ian Fordham, Cabinet Member for Environment at the 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 always pleasing to have independent feedback from judges representing a national organisation about how well maintained and managed these important green spaces are - although as always it is our residents and visitors who 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.’”

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

More about borough parks from www.staffordbc.gov.uk/stafford-borough-parks

Press Release No 6140