Two parks in Dudley have won national awards.

Dudley Council won two of the three gongs it was shortlisted for at last night’s prestigious Horticulture Week Custodian Awards.

Priory Park in Dudley won in the Best Heritage Park category. The Grade II Park and Garden of Special Historic Interest has demonstrated excellence through exemplary Green Flag award scores and feedback.

Mary Stevens Park, in Stourbridge, came out on top in the Best Parks Restoration or Development Project category. It comes after a £3.1 million restoration project, managed by Community First Partnership (CFP) in conjunction with the Friends of Mary Stevens Park at the beauty spot.

Wollescote Park’s “Growing in the Park” project, run by Dudley Mind, was also highly commended for Best Community Health/Wellbeing Initiative. And Mary Stevens joined Priory in the nominations for Best Heritage Park and was highly commended too.

The Horticulture Week Custodian Awards are run by industry trade journal Horticulture Week and celebrate the best of parks, gardens and tree management. Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental, highways and street services, said:

"I’m absolutely delighted that two of our parks have won national awards, with another coming very close.

"I’m so proud of everyone involved and would like to thank all the council teams, charities, friends and community groups who have been involved in these fantastic projects."