Stafford Crematorium and the historic Eccleshall Road Cemetery have been recognised for their beauty and importance in a national competition.
The Green Flag Award is the benchmark national standard for publicly accessible parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom, managed under license in the UK by the Department for Communities and Local Government and managed by Keep Britain Tidy which recognises and rewards their good management and upkeep.
The 2018 award acknowledges that a green space is well-used and valued by its community and is about more than just cutting the grass. It honours the effective management and the use of skilled staff, along with support of the local community and volunteers that are key to creating fantastic public spaces.
Stafford Crematorium and Eccleshall Road cemetery are highly valued as places of remembrance, spirituality, history and nature.
Friends of Stafford Cemeteries, a volunteer group based in Stafford which supports Stafford Borough Council’s Bereavement Services has been raising public awareness of, and developing public interest in, the council’s cemeteries and crematorium since 2017 through open and awareness days, social media and local events and is thrilled at the news of the award for Stafford Borough Council and Stafford Bereavement Services.
Laura Francis, Secretary of Friends of Stafford Cemeteries commented, “Stafford Crematorium and Eccleshall Road cemetery are highly valued as places of remembrance, spirituality, history and nature and have brought the local community and people from lots of different backgrounds together to protect and preserve them for public benefit. The Green Flag award recognises the hard work and care of everyone at Stafford Borough Council, Stafford Bereavement Services, local companies, volunteers and surrounding communities that act as guardian of these beautiful places and brings with it a vast amount of prestige and a great sense of civic pride that we would like to get more people involved in.”
If you would like to find out more about Stafford Borough Council, Stafford Bereavement Services and the Green Flag Award please contact Cath Averill at bereavementservices@staffordbc.gov.uk or if you would like to find out more about Friends of Stafford Cemeteries and the work that they do please visit the Friends Group Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofStaffordCemeteries/ . If you would be interested in becoming a member or contributing to Friends of Stafford Cemeteries, please contact Laura Francis at FriendsofStaffordCemeteries@Virginmedia.co.uk.
You can find out more about the Green Flag Awards along with the other Green Flag Award winners in the Staffordshire area at: www.greenflagaward.org.uk
SOURCES
1. Green Flag Awards Website – www.greenflagaward.org.uk
2. Green Flag Awards – Celebrating Amazing Spaces Brochure - http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk/media/1121/celebrating-amazing-spaces.pdf
3. Stoke Sentinel - https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/11-parks-scored-top-marks-1805511
4. Jill Samphier Funeral Directors News, Articles & Events - Eccleshall Road Cemetery Open Day With A Difference - https://www.jillsamphierfuneraldirectors.co.uk/blog/open-day-with-a-difference-at-eccleshall-road-cemetary-in-stafford