Park group’s joy at special status
Volunteers who care for a park are celebrating after gaining Arboretum Status.
The Friends of Brunswick Park group – who look after the park in Wednesbury – became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation two years ago.
And Ian McDermott, the 62-year-old chairman of the Friends group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to gain this special status.
“To grain the accreditation we had to meet various conditions and among these was our tree trails which can be downloaded.
“These have proved particularly important as during the pandemic people have realised parks and outdoor spaces are important.
"We carry out planting every November during National Tree Week and inherited good work from Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council.
“We were recognised for having many interesting trees and paid for a survey to be carried out last year and among the trees we planted was a Strawberry Tree, the national one for Ireland.It is wonderful that we have been recognised for our collection of trees and the way we manage them.”
Although one of the smallest in the Sandwell borough, the park covers about 25 acres with thousands of trees on two sites near Wood Green Cemetery.
