Sandwell is celebrating a record-breaking 17 prestigious Green Flag Awards announced today (Tuesday 14 July), retaining 16 existing flags and adding Britannia Park in Rowley Regis to the list.
Sandwell’s award-winning green spaces include Sandwell Valley, at least one park in each town, two cemeteries, a crematorium and three community-run sites.
Britannia Park’s success follows major improvements over the past few years. The park joins 2,390 other sites across the UK achieving the award this year.
The Green Flag Award, which is celebrating its 30th year, is an internationally recognised standard for parks and green spaces. For many years, Sandwell Council and community organisations have been applying to the scheme, which is run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.
Time and time again, Sandwell has been recognised for its positive efforts in managing parks and green spaces well. Throughout the borough Sandwell continues to deliver high quality, well-kept parks and green spaces for all residents to enjoy.
Britannia Park’s £2.7million transformation has been supported through funding from the government’s Towns Fund programme, Sandwell Council, the Lawn Tennis Association, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Improvements include a new sports changing rooms, a more accessible and improved car park, upgraded sports facilities, and new play and outdoor fitness equipment.
Sandwell Council Leader Councillor Ray Nock said: “We know the important role our parks and green spaces play within our communities and recognise they serve all our residents.
“Well-maintained spaces are vital for leisure, exercise and good health and wellbeing.
“Residents have told us how much these sites mean to them, so it’s fantastic for Sandwell to achieve a record-breaking 17 Green Flags – 14 of which are council-run sites.
“After applying for the very first time for Britannia Park, we are honoured to accept the Green Flag for our newly transformed green space.
“I would like to thank all of our staff, community organisations, volunteers and Friends’ groups who work hard to ensure our parks, green spaces, cemeteries and crematoria grounds are of the highest standard.
“Building on this success, the council will continue to invest in much-loved parks and green spaces across Sandwell to provide enjoyable, safe spaces for residents, as part of our continuing journey to become an outstanding council.”
The following parks and green spaces in Sandwell achieved the prestigious Green Flag Award 2026:
Council-run sites:
- Barnford Park, Oldbury
- Britannia Park, Rowley Regis (first Green Flag Award achieved in 2026)
- Brunswick Park, Wednesbury
- Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich
- Fallings Heath Cemetery, Wednesbury
- Haden Hill Park, Cradley Heath
- Lightwoods Park, Bearwood
- Red House Park, Great Barr
- Sandwell Valley Crematorium, West Bromwich
- Sandwell Valley Country Park, West Bromwich
- Tipton Cemetery
- Victoria Park, Smethwick
- Victoria Park, Tipton
- West Smethwick Park, Smethwick
Community-run sites in Sandwell:
- Lions of the Great War, Smethwick – a Green Flag Award Community Winner (managed by Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick)
- Revolution Walk (Main Line Canal), Smethwick/Birmingham (managed by Canal & River Trust)
- Warley Woods, Bearwood (managed by Warley Woods Community Trust)
Discover your nearest award-winning park on the Visit Sandwell website.
Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy.
“With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it’s a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways to improve people’s quality of life.
“The council and community organisations in Sandwell have shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like these that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard. Congratulations to everyone involved."
The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under contract from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.