Dudley Council has been shortlisted for three Horticulture Week Custodian Awards for projects in borough parks.

The Horticulture Week Custodian Awards are run by Horticulture week and celebrates the best of parks, gardens and tree management.

Wollescote Park’s ‘Growing in the Park’ project has been shortlisted for best community health / wellbeing initiative. Dudley MIND (a mental health charity) uses horticulture throughout the seasons to engage with those facing mental health issues and included restorative work to the park’s beautiful walled garden.

A Heritage Lottery Fund project at Mary Stevens Park has been shortlisted for best heritage park and best parks restoration or development project. The £3.1 million restoration project has been done in conjunction with The Friends of Mary Stevens Park, including improvements to restore and redevelop the heritage elements of the site. It has also enabled the council to hold a regular program of events and activities and a range of volunteering and training opportunities.

Priory Park has also been shortlisted for best heritage park. The Grade II Park and Garden of Special Historic Interest has demonstrated excellence through exemplary Green Flag award scores and feedback.

The three borough parks that have been shortlisted will find out if they have been successful on 25 June. For more information on the awards go to custodianawards.com. Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental, highways and street services, said:

“I’m delighted to see some of our fantastic park projects being recognised and shortlisted at a national level and I wish all involved every success next month.

“I would like to thank all the charities, friends and community groups who have been involved in these projects. It is their dedication and volunteering that helps us to deliver these exciting programmes.”