Two city parks recognised as two of the country’s best parks
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is celebrating after receiving a Green Flag Award for Burslem Park and Hanley Park.
The news that both parks have achieved the accreditation – the international quality mark for parks and green spaces – is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the teams that care for the green spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Hanley Park proudly boasts 60-acres, and since opening in 1897 has had numerous improvements, leading to a surge in visitors in recent years. The council, which owns and maintains the park, successfully bid for £4.5 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund in 2015 to restore the park’s historic features and attract more park users of all ages.
Burslem Park is a Grade II listed Victorian Park and is home to wonderful architecture, including a formal terrace garden, and a beautiful walk via a winding path that takes visitors from the lake to the pavilion.
Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability said: “I am thrilled that both Burslem Park and Hanley Park have once again been recognised nationally as one of the top green public spaces. The parks are a vibrant community spaces, with recreational facilities, sports facilities, with a whole raft of grounds operators, and volunteers who keep it pristine. This award is a true reflection of the hard work and dedication our teams put into keeping our green spaces, green.”
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Burslem and Hanley Park’s on achieving a Green Flag Award.
“Both parks are a vital green space for communities in Stoke-on-Trent to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.
“We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.
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.
