Friends of Hope Coppice were celebrating today as the 15-acre park became the 17th in the borough to be given a Green Flag. The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
Cllr Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council, said: “Hope Coppice was created to provide a new space for peace and contemplation after the horror of the Covid pandemic. Over the last three years hundreds of local residents have joined the Planting our Future tree planting campaign to plant over 10,000 trees there, creating a beautiful forest for visitors and a welcome boost for nature and biodiversity.
“I am thrilled that Hope Coppice has been recognised with a Green Flag and congratulate all the staff and volunteers who have worked so hard to get to this point. I would also like to congratulate our other parks and local volunteers for retaining their Green Flags.”
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Cllr Ken Hawkins, added: “I am delighted that we have not only retained all 16 Green Flag Awards in Solihull but gained another one at Hope Coppice. I would like to congratulate the council staff and all our local volunteers who have worked so hard to make this possible.
“Through projects like Wildlife Ways and our local tree planting and environmental campaigns, Planting our Future and Love Solihull, we have created partnerships that support local wildlife and ensure our parks are beautiful places for our residents and visitors to relax, exercise and enjoy the natural environment. Thank you to all our staff and volunteers who make this possible.”
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Hope Coppice on achieving a Green Flag Award.
“Hope Coppice is a vital green space for communities in Solihull borough to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.
“It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”
The 17 Green Flag sites in Solihull are:
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- Babb's Mill Recreation Ground & Local Nature Reserve
- Bentley Heath Recreation Ground
- Damson Lane Park
- Dorridge Park & Wood
- Elmdon Park
- Hillfield Park & Local Nature Reserve
- Hope Coppice – new for this year
- Knowle Park
- Lavender Hall Park
- Malvern and Brueton Park
- Meriden Park
- Olton Jubilee Park
- Palmers Rough Recreation Ground
- Robin Hood Cemetery
- Shirley Park
- Tudor Grange Park
- Woodlands Cemetery
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.