National award for quality of Newcastle’s public spaces
Six public spaces in Newcastle have received a prestigious award for how well they’re looked after.
The Green Flag Award winners for 2024 are the Borough Council-owned Bradwell Crematorium, Brampton Park, Keele Cemetery, Lyme Valley Park, Queens Gardens and Wolstanton Park.
Judging of the sites includes a visit by a ‘mystery shopper’, whose assessment includes how welcoming the site is, cleanliness, safety and environmental diversity.
David Hutchison, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council's Cabinet member for Sustainable Environment, said:
Given that a central part of what we do is provide clean, attractive and welcoming spaces for people to use, visit, or enjoy, I am delighted that six of our sites should win such an important award.
Staff work hard day-to-day on the upkeep and maintenance of these sites, as well as looking ahead to plan diverse planting and to make the sites attractive to insects and pollinators.”
Other criteria for the wards include how the community is involved and evidence of how the sites are regularly looked after and the management of environmental management, biodiversity and heritage.
Congratulating Newcastle, Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said that parks were essential for physical health and mental well-being, but needed to feel safe to encourage use. She added:
We know beyond doubt that our local environment contributes to the wellbeing of individuals and communities, with our parks and green spaces recognised as areas where people can come together and be active.
Research shows that time spent in green spaces can positively affect mental and physical health, quality of life and a sense of wellbeing.”
The news comes while Newcastle-under-Lyme is the reigning overall champion of the Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom awards.
While celebrating its 850th anniversary in 2023, first Newcastle won its category as the best ‘small city’ in the United Kingdom, along with a Gold Award for the quality of its entry - and then claimed the overall prize for best winner.
That outstanding success followed years of pride and hard work in the community, collecting 21 consecutive gold awards in the Heart of England category.