Heart of England in Bloom is one of the seventeen regions within the UK that delivers the Britain in Bloom campaign.

The assessors visited the park on a hot day in July and were not disappointed. The review noted the many entrances to the park, including the attention to detail on the footbridges that cross the canal and that there were no signs of litter, graffiti fly posting, or dog fouling within the park.

Cllr Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, environment and enforcement said: “This is a huge accolade for the teams at the park. The attention to detail they have when curating the flower displays, tree care, and wildlife areas is incredible, and they deserve to celebrate winning gold.

“Hanley Park is a well-used and much-loved space in the heart of the city, from hosting community activities, such as Park Run, to being a hub for community groups and outreach events supported by the Friends of Hanley Park.  If you haven’t been for a walk around the park recently, I encourage you to visit in each season.”

Hanley Park has continued to develop wildlife attractions over the last few years, including the installation of wildflower areas, sustainable planting and a new woodland walk which includes bird boxes, bug hotels, and improving biodiversity across the entire 63 acres.

Notably, the Streetcare and Greenspace teams work tirelessly all year round to not only form relationships with nature but also visitors to the park. The Friends of Hanley Park also volunteer their time to support these efforts.

This comes as the park earlier this year once again won Green Flag status.

The park originally opened in 1897 has had its bandstand restored, the main pavilion reinstated and attracts 1000 of visitors each year.