20 years of award-winning recognition for Bramcote Hills Park

Within the last year, Bramcote Hills has seen a number of major projects begin and complete, including:

• The addition of a sculpture paying tribute to the Borough of Broxtowe, carved out of the trunk of a fallen oak tree, which includes references to Broxtowe’s history, industrial heritage and our wildlife.
• The Friends of The Walled Garden community group was formed and have had their first meetings.
• Completion of a sensory garden within The Walled Garden, which included intentional planting and landscaping to stimulate all the senses, and improved site accessibility. Two community planting events have also taken place, engaging young people from Foxwood Academy and members of Social Souls in Stapleford to help plant a wildflower lawn with over 8,000 flowering bulbs!
• Restored an area of woodland and grassland with the ‘Wilder Crow Hill’ project, planting native tree saplings, lowland dry-acid grassland, and 28 grass and flower species with help from Canopy 2050, Foxwood Academy and local residents.

The main area of the park plays host to Broxtowe’s flagship event, Hemlock Happening, with 2027’s edition set to mark its 25^th year. Regularly welcoming over 9,000 attendees, Hemlock Happening has become a staple community celebration in the calendars of many residents.

The Council’s Holocaust Memorial Day service has also been taking place in The Walled Garden, which is home to the Holocaust Memorial, since 2001.

Judges commented on the site’s outstanding cleanliness, the site’s environmental management, and the significant community involvement in the park.

Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, Councillor Tyler Marsh, said, “Retaining the Green Flag award, an internationally recognised award for high a standard of parks, for a 20^th consecutive year is an outstanding achievement and one that our Environment Team and residents can be very proud of.

“Parks and open spaces in Broxtowe are vital spaces for our communities’ enjoyment and wellbeing, and the hard work and dedication of teams in creating and maintaining this space is second to none.”

Broxtowe’s Colliers Wood site also received its 17^th consecutive Green Flag Award this year.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under contract 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.

For more details of the parks and open spaces within the Borough of Broxtowe, visit our Parks and Open Spaces webpage.

If you are interested in helping to maintain a local space, connect with nature and make new friends, you could get involved with the Friends of the Walled Garden group. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact environment@broxtowe.gov.uk