Awards for the best Midlands beauty spots

Dozens of beauty spots in Staffordshire and the Black Country have cemented their status as being among the best in the country after gaining the national Green Flag Award. The Green Flag celebrates the best parks and green spaces.

More than 1,400 UK sites received the award yesterday. Sites in Staffordshire include Victoria Park, Stafford; Wom Brook Walk, Wombourne; and Baggeridge Country Park near Dudley.

Victoria Park, near Stafford town centre, retains its Green Flag status for the sixth consecutive year.

Ian Thompson, chief executive of Stafford Council, said he was delighted with the borough's awards. He said: "It is really pleasing to know that an independent, national organisation, have told us the way we keep our premises is of such a high standard."

A total of 29 sites in the region received an award.

A number of community-run sites in the region have also been decorated. Barnford and Farm Road Allotments in Rowley Regis has taken the honour along with the Dingley Road Allotment in Tipton, Moorlands Allotment in West Bromwich and Shenstone Playing Fields, near Lichfield.

Wolverhampton's West Park has retained its Green Flag status along with Palfrey Park and Willenhall Memorial Park.

Leisure chief Councillor Anthony Harris said: "This is a very proud day for the friends groups of Palfrey and Willenhall who have worked so hard with the council's Greenspace Service and Street Pride to maintain our parks to the very high standard that the judges expect."

Paul Todd, Green Flag Award scheme manager, said: "We are thrilled to announce yet another record-breaking year for Green Flag Award parks and green spaces."

The winning sites will be raising their flags throughout this week and celebrating during Love Parks Week, which runs from Saturday until July 29.

By Mitchell Sayers