Millions flock to Walsall's parks and green spaces
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- Category: Atrraction Venues Walsall
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More than 21 million visits were made to Walsall's parks and greenspaces throughout 2011, with record numbers attending community events and activities staged throughout the year.
Walsall Council's Greenspace Service has delivered and is delivering more than 30 projects in excess of £3 million including the regeneration of Kings Hill Park in Darlaston, the construction of a new green pavilion at Palfrey Park and play area improvements on Pelsall Common.
The service is working with parks' friends and user groups to bring about the improvements and this partnership has helped secure more than £1.9 million from external funding sources for the good of the borough's green spaces.
Councillor Anthony Harris, Walsall Council cabinet member for leisure and culture, said: "It has been a fantastic year for green spaces in Walsall with varied schemes and projects that all communities will benefit from.
"The partnership between the council's officers and the borough's friends and users groups is going from strength to strength and bringing about significant improvements and national recognition received for the services excellent tree warden scheme, long may this continue.
We have embarked on the largest street tree planting programme ever seen within the borough with over 300 trees being planted and the second community orchard has been established providing fruit for the local community.
"This strong relationship resulted in the retention of the Green Flag at Willenhall Memorial Park and Palfrey Park and at Merrions Wood Local Nature Reserve and we are making excellent progress on our new Green Space Strategy.
"As we look to 2012 we will see the restoration of Walsall Arboretum continuing at a pace and the parks team has another packed calendar of events for all ages coming up.
"The visitor figures, obtained from electronic counters and our comprehensive analysis of user surveys, are really something to shout about as they show that the improvements we are making are making our green spaces better quality and attracting more people."
Improvements are also being made in the allotment service with a new community gardens and allotment officer Alison Bate appointed in August this year. Alison is also a lecturer of Horticulture to students across the West Midlands.
Since August 2011 £100,000 has been secured for a range of improvements to the ten sites managed directly by Walsall Council and 2012 will see the establishment of the first community garden and co-operative management organisation for the borough.
Thirty new plots are also being offered to people on Walsall’s allotment waiting list.
Schools across the borough have been using Walsall parks and green spaces as an outdoor classroom throughout the year and the Greenspace Improvement Service has, for the 15th year running, continued to deliver a key part of the degree curriculum for Birmingham University year 1 and year 3 Geography and Town Planning students.
Councillor Harris added: "The Greenspace Service continues to be at the forefront of community involvement and both the service and its partnership working are recognised by neighbouring and national authorities as being an example case study for Best Practice.
"I would like to add my congratulations to the officers involved for their hard work, dedication and, most of all, enthusiasm for the borough's green spaces. While 2011 was a fantastic year, 2012 gives us plenty more to look forward to."
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