Newsletter of the Staffordshire Gardens and Parks Trust. Registered Charity No. 1013862. WINTER 2015 ISSUE No. 53 News Staffordshire Gardens & Parks Trust Published by the Staffordshire Gardens and Parks Trust. c/o South Staffordshire LETTER Council, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, Staffordshire WV8 1PX. Tel: 01902 696000 GREEN FLAG PARK AWARDS Most people have heard of the Blue Flag beach awards scheme which gives reassurance that a seaside beach is clean and safe to bathe from. By comparison, given that most of us only visit the seaside once a year, tend to live a long way from the coast and generally have a public park somewhere in our neighbourhood, relatively few people are aware of the Green Flag Park award scheme which will be celebrating its 20th anniversary next year. This is all the more surprising as getting on for 1400 parks (almost 10% of the total in the UK) now hold the award which aims to do for parks what Blue Flag does for beaches. The Green Flag Park Award scheme was but tidy and well kempt beds); a minimal set up in 1996 by the Pesticides Trust, (preferably zero) use of pesticides and The Institute of Leisure and Amenity peat; and have a promotional or marketing Management (ILAM) and English Nature strategy that is appropriate to the against a background of declining local site. Parks also have to show how they authority spending on public parks, acknowledge and respect both the natural compulsory competitive tendering driving heritage of their site and any features down both prices and standards, and of historic interest (both layout and growing realisation of the value of parks to historic structures). From the outset the the well being of their local communities. scheme has recognised and encouraged The overall aim was to try and arrest community involvement both to secure a Green Flag the decline and drive up standards. The sense of local “ownership” and involvement criteria for the award broadly reflected in decisions affecting parks through the getting on for 1000 applications annually the interests and concerns of the founders: formation of “Friends” groups and also to assessed by approximately 600 volunteer nature conservation and enhanced public create a nucleus of volunteers to help plug judges working in pairs. Applications are access, good management, and reduction some of the gaps created by withdrawal of submitted each year between November in the use of harmful chemicals or scarce local authority funds and staff. and January with judging taking place natural resources (i.e. peat). These criteria between late March to early June. have proved sound and still govern judging In the early days the scheme was Applications are submitted in two parts: a of the award today. administered by ILAM and funded (as it management plan showing the rationale still is) by application fees. By 2000 the behind operation of the site and an Parks have to demonstrate that they are scheme had grown considerably and, accompanied site visit. Applications have safe for users; easy of access and well recognising its value in driving up standards, to secure a pass, currently 66%, in both signposted for all ability groups; have overall sponsorship and ownership of the desktop and site visit to secure the award. good quality and appropriate amenities project was taken over by the government Initially the award was held for 12 months for different users (e.g. clean toilets, play who currently licence its management and but today to ease the burden on the equipment for children, adequate seating operation to the Keep Britain Tidy Group. scheme and applicants it is held for two and shelter for visitors and possibly a café); years with a resubmission required in year are well maintained, free of dog fouling The scheme has grown considerably three. To check standards haven’t slipped and litter. Parks also have to show good over the last 20 years. In the first year between formal assessments parks may be standards of horticulture and tree care there were only 12 applications assessed subject to a mystery judge visit during the (not dazzling displays of plantsmanship by 16 judges nationally. Today there are intermediate summer. The judging system continued overleaf Tamworth whereas Stafford’s two sites are almost as many for the whole of Shropshire (3). Twenty years on there is no doubt that the scheme has been a huge success and has driven up both standards and our understanding of what constitutes a well run public park. Many parks managers have used the prestige of holding the flag to secure funding for improvement from their Councils even in cash strapped times. The Heritage Lottery Fund has been assisting public parks since the Beacon Park, Lichfield. Green Flag Award holder 2015 which came 12th 1990s (now through its Parks for nationally in the People’s Choice of favourite Green Flag park. Note the All programmes jointly with the flag flying by the entrance Big Lottery). It is a condition that grant recipients hold the Green is rigorous and as well as those that fail to (e.g. Nottingham Trent and Reading). Over Flag for seven years to ensure the value make the grade on first submission others time it has been realised that the standard of the lottery investment is safeguarded. have been known to lose the award from criteria may not suit every site and new And, if proof be needed of the value one judging season to the next. categories have been added to cover and achievement of the scheme, it has community gardens and historic parks now been adopted in Germany, Holland, In the early days applications were (Green Heritage). Australia, the USA and even Abu Dhabi generally received from “conventional” and will surely continue to grow. Look town parks but within a few years 56 Staffordshire parks (including those out for the Green Flag flying by the gate submissions were being received for (and in the Black Country covered by SGPT) of public parks next time you are out awards given to) extensive country parks hold the award in 2015-16. The best and about and you will be assured of a (like Baggeridge in South Staffordshire), and represented authorities are Sandwell worthwhile visit. even for pocket parks the size of a town and Newcastle under Lyme with 9 square (e.g. Queens Gardens, Newcastle). each followed by Stoke on Trent with For further information about the scheme Today the scope of sites covered by the 7, Walsall with 5 and East Staffordshire and award holding parks visit scheme is considerable including municipal with 4. Strangely for a large urban www.greenflagaward.org. cemeteries (e.g. Silverdale, Bradwell and authority with some very interesting parks Keele in Newcastle Borough) and some Wolverhampton has none (Birmingham A.T. 6 university grounds across the country currently holds 16 awards); neither does Parks in Staffordshire and adjoining areas holding the award in 2015-16 (sites in italics were formerly in Worcestershire) CANNOCK CHASE WALSALL STOKE UPON TRENT Cannock Park Blackwood Park Park Hall Country Park Castle Ring Palfrey Park Burslem Park Elmore Park Willenhall Memorial Park Fenton Park Ravenhill Park Merrions Wood Queens Park, Longton Stile Cop Cemetery Rough Wood and Bentley Haye Carmountside Cemetery Whitfield Valley LNR NEWCASTLE UNDER LYME EAST STAFFORDSHIRE Bathpool Park Branston Water Park STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS Brampton Park Kingfisher Trail Ladderedge Country Park Lyme Valley Park Bramshall Road Park, Uttoxeter Queens Gardens Stapenhill Gardens DUDLEY Silverdale Park Priory Park Bradwell Crematorium SANDWELL Huntingtree Park Sandwell Valley Crematorium Wollescote Park SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE Barnford Park, Oldbury Netherton Park Baggeridge Country Park Dartmouth Park Silver Jubilee Park Wom Brook Walk Haden Hill Park The Leasowes Sandwell Valley Park Wrens Nest NNR STAFFORD Victoria Park, Smethwick Victoria Park Brunswick Park, Wednesbury LICHFIELD Stafford Crematorium Tipton Cemetery Beacon Park Warley Woods The Monks Walk Group The Monks Walk Group have put down their tools for the time being and handed the responsibility for maintenance of the Monks Walk Garden to the new owners of the site - Pegasus Life. The photograph shows long standing members of the group (since 2003) with the new accommodation block called ‘Chapter House’ in the background - built for Retirement Living and which commenced on site in September this year. Planning obligations will ensure that the gardens are retained as part of the overall scheme. The Monks Walk Group will continue to work with Rob Hartley Landscapes who is contracted to maintain the garden until next year, when the site will be included in other landscaped areas for the use of residents. We have been assured that The Monks Walk will remain open to the public into the future but currently the only access is from the lower end of the garden through the Lichfield University Campus car park. Please feel free to visit this calm and peaceful space. Some quotes from the individual members of the Monks Walk Group will tell you more about the unique character of the Monks Walk and the enjoyment of our voluntary work here over the past 12 years: “A peaceful haven where I have learned so much “The Monks Walk has a “An oasis of calm in the about gardening from new special feeling about it …the friends” idea that people have been Friary Area of Lichfield. “An almost hidden garden, Great to work in the growing things in that space for centuries” redolent of a quiet age morning among the birds with historic plants and the peace and quiet at and herbs. A feeling of the start of the day” timelessness pervades the garden just before twilight. “A lovely peaceful space A special place” to escape to…” “A beautiful garden created with like “My memories are of a minded friends.