THE SEARCH for the nation’s favourite park has begun after national charity Fields in Trust officially opened voting.
And Redditch’s Arrow Valley Country Park and Morton Stanley Park are in contention.
One resident who nominated Arrow Valley said: “I have grown up having the privilege of this stunning park and lake in our beautiful town.
“It is a place to walk, to breathe deeply and watch the world go by. It is loved by the town and visitors and it’s my favourite space.”
Another resident said Morton Stanley was ‘lovely and clean’ with lots to do including Woodland Walks and going in the skate park and play area.
The public was asked to put forward parks with 364 in total nominated. People will now have until August 18 to vote for their favourite.
The campaign was launched in 2015 and this year’s competition, the first held since the pandemic, has had more nominations than ever.
There were 39 total nominations in the West Midlands.
This year’s Green Space Index report found that 2.8 million people live more than ten minutes’ walk from a green space.
Fields in Trust chief executive Helen Griffiths said: “We’re delighted to see that hundreds of parks and green spaces have been nominated up and down the country.
“It is incredibly heartening to hear the individual stories of significance for these spaces and this process has only emphasised the collective importance of having natural areas in our communities.”
Visit www.fieldsintrust.org/favourite-parks/nominations to vote.
