AFTER transforming their park into a green space that Halesowen can be really proud of, the Friends of Hurst Green Park have been awarded by Dudley Council.
The group's achievements over the past 12 months, including clean up events, woodland maintenance sessions and a successful funding bid for a biodiversity improvement project, have been recognised with the council’s 2017 ‘Group Transformation Award’.
Carol Hackett, chairman of the friends group, said: “It has been very much a collective project and everyone has worked so hard to make an incredible difference.
“We already get comments from park users as to how much the projects that have taken place have improved the area and made an impact.
“I just worked off a wish list from previous ideas put forward, tried to remember what everyone wanted for the park, and got the wheels in motion.”
The group have also made use of recycled fly-tipped building materials and rubbish left behind by travellers to create new dog bins and planters, while donated plants have bee used in a new floral garden on the side entrance of car park.
A fly-tipped rusty bin which has been brought back into use by the Friends of Hurst Green Park group.
A Dudley Council spokesman said: “We have been particularly impressed with the development and determination shown by this group over the past 12 months.
“The group is developing partnerships with local businesses and achieve amazing volunteer numbers in attendance to its woodland maintenance sessions on the park.
“A special thanks are to go to the newly elected chair of this group for her ongoing enthusiasm and dedication to her local park, in addition to encouraging others to take care of their local green space.”
The friends’ next project is starting this week, with the group calling for help in painting the playground equipment, fences and benches.
Volunteers can meet on the Moat Drive car park at 10am every Thursday and Friday morning through to September 22.
Anyone interested in offering an hour or more of their time on September 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 or 22, should call 0121 559 6061. All materials and painting tools as well as protective clothing will be supplied by the council.
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