Recognition for Hanley and Burslem parks in international award scheme
Hanley Park has once again been awarded the prestigious Green Flag.
The 125-year-old venue, which has undergone a multi-million-pound restoration over the last few years, has been recognised nationally as a quality green public space by the charity Keep Britain Tidy.
The 60-acre park, which opened in 1897, has had its bandstand restored, the main pavilion reinstated as a café and its boathouse brought back to life along with a whole raft of other improvements which has led to a surge in visitors. Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which owns and maintains the park, successfully bid for £4.5 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund in 2015 to restore the park’s historic features and attract more park users of all ages.
Burslem Park has also retained its Green flag status following inspections of the restored Victorian terrace garden and ornamental fountains.
Councillor Carl Edwards, cabinet member for environment and housing at the city council, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to once again have received a Green Flag for Hanley Park and Burslem Park. Both parks have seen an incredible transformation over the last few years and these awards feel like a very fitting culmination to all of the hard work that has taken place to get them looking how they do today. They are absolutely stunning.
“We know how important it is to have quality outdoor spaces that everyone can access and enjoy. And it’s great to see the parks busy and full of people enjoying the fantastic facilities on offer. The response from the public to our restoration projects has been very positive and I’d like to say thank you to everyone who has worked hard to keep our parks looking so good.”
Hanley Park
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, and recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.
More than 2,000 sites across the country will collect the award for 2022.
A short distance away, the playground at Westport Lake is the latest play area to be improved and updated as part of a wider investment programme across a number of parks to enhance the family experience.
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