Himley Hall shut but park still being enjoyed during coronavirus outbreak
The majority of attractions may have closed due to coronavirus but parks across the Black Country and Staffordshire remain open.
And it seems people in Dudley are still enjoying the picturesque grounds of Himley Hall and Park.
The hall itself has been closed by its owners until further notice on the back of Government advice over social distancing.
But the parkland, which features a lake, woodland and trails, has remained open to the public with the Government still encouraging exercise for people who are not self-isolating.
Concerns were raised over the weekend over large numbers of people congregating outside and Boris Johnson has warned that further measures will be necessary if people continue to ignore social distancing advice.
However with people largely staying behind closed doors due to Covid-19, exercise is still encouraged - so long as people stick to staying two metres away from each other
The Royal Parks, a leading parks charity based in London, says it is still encouraging people to enjoy parks despite the outbreak of coronavirus.
A spokesman for the charity said: "It’s important that in these difficult times, people do what they can to boost their physical and mental wellbeing whilst ensure we follow government advice about social distancing."
Visitors can now park for free at Himley after charges were suspended by Dudley Council.
Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental, highways and commercialisation, said: "We want to do all we can to help our residents at this challenging time, which is why we have suspended parking charges at Himley Hall and Park until further notice.
"I hope residents will take the time to be active in the outdoors at all of our parks including Himley Hall.
"We are just reminding people to try to stay two metres apart from one another and to follow good hand hygiene practises before and after their visit to help keep everyone safe."
