An allotment in Solihull which has served the local community for almost 50 years has become the first in the borough to win a prestigious Green Flag Community Award.
Dickens Heath Allotment first opened in February 1978 and has evolved to become a vibrant community space with more than 80 members and 40 plots.
Members come from Dickens Heath, Monkspath, Shirley and beyond to sustainably produce a variety of fruit and vegetables, and have recently added new English heritage apple trees to help protect the variety from dying out.
It has even become a sanctuary for rehabilitated hedgehogs who have been released back into the wild as part of a link-up with Solihogs Rescue Centre and Solihull Council.
Now the much-loved site has been recognised by The Green Flag Award, becoming the first allotment in the borough to win the mark of quality for well-managed parks and green spaces.
It has been crowned a winner in the inaugural Green Flag Community Award, which recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups, whilst 17 existing Green Flag Award sites in Solihull have also retained their status.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Cllr Ken Hawkins, said:
“This award is fantastic news and testament to Dickens Heath Allotment Association and the members who have invested so much time and care into it over the years.
“I am also delighted to see Solihull retain all other 17 Green Flag Awards, and I would like to congratulate all of the council staff, our Strategic Environment Contract partner Veolia, Friends of Park groups, and volunteers who have worked so hard to make this possible.
“We are rightly proud of our parks and green spaces in Solihull. They provide a vital space for nature, enhance biodiversity, and boost our mental health and wellbeing; offering beautiful places for our residents and visitors to relax, exercise and enjoy the natural environment.”
Michael Stott, Chair of the Dickens Heath Allotment Association, said:
“I did not believe it when I found out we’d won – it has been so exciting!
“For us, the allotment is such a peaceful and tranquil place to go and relax. We nip in and can say hello to each other and have a catch-up, we share produce, we have coffee mornings, so it is a little community within itself.
“We have members from a variety of different backgrounds and ages from people in their 80s to families with young children. This year we’ve had a big influx of families which has been really nice and it has given us all a buzz.
“Our most recent unofficial members have been the hedgehogs! As we’re a closed community and our produce is free from chemicals, the Council introduced us to Solihogs last year and we have so far released six hedgehogs back into the wild. They eat the slugs and bugs so they help to protect the produce too – they are our little helpers!”
Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said:
“Dickens Heath Allotment is a vital green space for communities to enjoy nature. It also provides important opportunities for local people to reap the physical and mental health benefits of green space.”
Lewis Hayden, Service Delivery Manager for Veolia Solihull said:
"This milestone demonstrates our team's commitment to excellence in maintaining Solihull's parks and green spaces, which are vital to the community's wellbeing. Through our dedicated grounds maintenance service for Solihull Council, we take pride in contributing to the borough's prestigious Green Flag awards, ensuring these spaces remain beautiful, sustainable, and welcoming for all residents to enjoy."
The 18 Green Flag sites in Solihull are:
Babb's Mill Recreation Ground & Local Nature Reserve
Bentley Heath Recreation Ground
Damson Lane Park
Dickens Heath Allotment
Dorridge Park & Wood
Elmdon Park
Hillfield Park & Local Nature Reserve
Hope Coppice
Knowle Park
Lavender Hall Park
Malvern and Brueton Park
Meriden Park
Olton Jubilee Park
Palmers Rough Recreation Ground
Robin Hood Cemetery
Shirley Park
Tudor Grange Park
Woodlands Cemetery
The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the world.