Eight parks and green spaces in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Kidsgrove have been named among the best in the country after achieving the Green Flag award.
Westlands Sports Ground, Bathpool Park, Bradwell Crematorium, Wolstanton Park and Marsh, Keele Cemetery, Brampton Park, Lyme Valley Parkway and Queens Gardens have all received the prestigious national accreditation. These sites are managed and maintained by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.
The venues are among 2,391 sites across the UK to achieve the award. The Green Flag scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and recognises well-managed parks and green spaces that meet the benchmark standard.
Council Pride in Achievement
Ben Simpson, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council Cabinet member for Waste, Recycling and Green Spaces, said the eight awards represent a tremendous achievement for the borough.
"These prestigious awards are not handed out lightly. They are national recognition that our parks and green spaces are welcoming, well cared for and among the very best in the country," Simpson said.
Simpson highlighted that Westlands Sports Ground's award follows significant improvements in recent years, including the installation of tennis courts and the creation of a woodland walk area.
Dedication Behind the Awards
Simpson attributed the success to dedicated Council staff, volunteers and community groups who maintain the spaces throughout the year.
Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said parks are essential public spaces that support wellbeing, communities and the economy. He noted that for millions of people, particularly in deprived areas, local parks do not always feel safe or welcoming.
"Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed," Todd said.