Sandwell beauty spots fly the Green Flag for award

Sandwell topped the charts in the Black Country and Staffordshire with 12 parks earning the accolade – but Wolverhampton got none at all, as it emerged that no entries were submitted from the city.

Cannock Chase won four awards, including for Cannock Park, while Netherton Park was among six to be handed the prestigious title in Dudley.

In total 1,448 parks, community gardens, universities and even shopping centres and cemeteries have met the Green Flag standard across the UK, making it a record year.

The scheme sets the national benchmark for parks and green spaces.

In Sandwell the borough's 12 winners were matched only by Birmingham across the whole of the West Midlands.

Its winners this year included Haden Hill Park in Cradley Heath, Dingley Road Allotments in Wednesbury, Sandwell Valley Crematorium in West Bromwich, Tipton Cemetery and Victoria Park in Smethwick.

The list includes six council-run parks, one in each of the borough's six towns. Three of the spaces are run by allotment associations and another site is run by Warley Woods Community Trust, a local community organisation.

Councillor Maria Crompton, the council's cabinet member for highways and environment, said: "I am so proud Sandwell is leading the way in the Green Flag awards.

"People don't always think of Sandwell as a place thriving with green spaces, but these prestigious awards help to bust any myths that the borough is just an urban jungle."

In Wolverhampton, no sites were awarded the status, despite West Park being a Green Flag park for years. Council spokesman Gurdip Thandi said: "The parks service, along with other departments across the council, has undergone a major reorganisation and because of that we were unable to submit applications.

"However, we will be reviewing the council's position later this year and it is hoped that Green Flag applications for some of the city parks will be resubmitted".

Four sites in Cannock Chase were recognised in the list, which were Elmore Park in Rugeley, Ravenhill Park in Brereton, Castle Ring in Cannock Wood and Cannock Park.

Cannock Chase Council's Christine Mitchell, culture and sport chief, said "We are absolutely delighted to have received the Green Flag Awards for another year. These awards recognise that people in the Cannock district are benefiting from a green space of the very highest quality."

In Walsall, both Willenhall Memorial Park and Palfrey Park – for the seventh and sixth years running respectively – earned the accolade, as well as Merrion's Wood.

Councillor Sean Coughlan, chairman of the Friends of Willenhall Memorial Park, said: "It's a recognition of all the hard work that the friends group and volunteers have put into the park to make it such a great place for visitors." Dudley Council has had six parks handed the accolade, including Wollescote Park and Wrens Nest National Nature Reserve.

Councillor Tracy Wood, the council's environment and culture lead, said: "Dudley is a beautiful, green borough and we're delighted that our green spaces are being recognised with this prestigious status.

"This accolade is with no small thanks to our local community members, volunteers, residents and friends groups who have worked hard to show how much they truly love our community."

Other victorious sites across the region were Beacon Park in Lichfield, Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Gardens in Bewdley, Baggeridge Country Park near Sedgley and Wom Brook Walk in Wombourne.

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