Stonefield Park has received the Green Flag Award for an eleventh consecutive time, while Stone Cemetery has secured its eighth award. Both sites are among six locations across Stafford Borough Council that have retained or received the national recognition this year.
The Green Flag Award is an international quality mark for parks and green spaces. It recognises sites that are welcoming, well maintained and managed to a high standard.
Stafford Borough Sites Recognised
In Stafford town itself, four additional sites have retained their awards. Victoria Park has held the Green Flag for a twentieth consecutive year. Wildwood Park received the award for a seventh time.
Stafford Crematorium and Tixall Road Cemetery secured the recognition for a fifteenth time. Eccleshall Road Cemetery, which is 160 years old, received its ninth award.
Together, the six council-managed sites have now achieved 70 years of Green Flag recognition in total.
National Achievement
Around 2,400 parks and green spaces across the UK received the award this year.
Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award manager, said: "Stafford Borough Council has shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed. Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy."
Council and Community Effort
Joss Presland, head of operations at Stafford Borough Council, thanked council staff and community groups for their work. He said the sites are popular with residents and visitors.
"Thank you to all those who do excellent work on the ground and behind the scenes to ensure these green spaces are appreciated by the tens of thousands of people who visit them," Presland said.
He also highlighted the contribution of community groups. "Thanks also to the contribution from our community, especially the 'Friends' groups that support the work of the council at these sites. They are instrumental in us receiving the 'Green Flags'."
The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Any green space which is freely accessible to the public can be entered into the annual scheme.