HAPPY birthday to you! Solihull's Council park ranger service got into the party mood this week when they celebrated their fifth birthday.
Since their inception the team have made many changes to the standard of the borough's parks.
Their main role is to work with the community to make good use of the borough's green space and at the same time encourage people to look after it too.
They have also been involved in the increased number of people visiting the borough's green sites through hundreds of park events and activities.
They also provide educational support to schools and community groups so that children grow up more aware of the various environments in the parks, the creatures that live there and how to look after such habitats.
Each ranger is responsible for three or four parks and is supported by assistant rangers.
They have specialist knowledge on flora and fauna and over the last five years have been responsible for a number of new projects to enhance the parks across the borough: Stepping stones have been built across streams, secret gardens with sculptures created, pond dipping platforms built to provide safe access to water and the creation of new nature habitats with wild flow-ers.
Cabinet member for quality of life and neighbourhoods, Councillor Diana Holl-Allen, said: "We're real-ly proud of the parks in Solihull which are a real asset to the borough. I would like to thank the Park Ranger team for their hard work and dedication in making sure these spaces can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike throughout the year."
There are now four Green Flag parks within the borough, Malvern and Brueton Park, Elmdon Park, Knowle Park and Shirley Park.
Visit www.solihull.gov.uk/parks to find out more about the borough's 18 principal parks or to contact the park rangers call 0121 704 8472.
