A Solihull allotment with nearly 50 years of history has become the first in the borough to receive a prestigious Green Flag Community Award.
Dickens Heath Allotment, which opened in February 1978, has grown into a vibrant hub with over 80 members tending to 40 plots. Located on Tythe Barn Lane, the site draws growers from across the borough, including Dickens Heath, Monkspath, and Shirley. Members cultivate a variety of fruit and vegetables using sustainable practices, and the site has recently added heritage English apple trees in a bid to preserve traditional varieties.
The allotment has also become a haven for wildlife. In a partnership with Solihogs Hedgehog Rescue and Solihull Council, the site has provided a safe space for rehabilitated hedgehogs to return to the wild — a move that also benefits allotment holders by controlling slug and insect populations.
Now, the site’s efforts have been formally recognised by the Green Flag Award scheme. In a borough first, Dickens Heath Allotment has been named a winner of the new Green Flag Community Award, which celebrates high-quality green spaces run by local volunteer and community groups.
Solihull Council has also retained Green Flag status at 17 other sites, meaning a total of 18 locations across the borough now hold the accolade.
Cllr Ken Hawkins, Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, 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.
“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.”
Michael Stott, Chair of the Dickens Heath Allotment Association, said the recognition came as a surprise:
“I did not believe it when I found out we’d won – it has been so exciting!
“We have members from all walks of life and across the age range, from people in their 80s to families with young children. This year we’ve had a big influx of families which has really given us 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’re our little helpers.”
Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, added:
“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.”
The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, and sets the international benchmark for managing green spaces.
Solihull’s 2025 Green Flag Award sites:
- Babb’s Mill Recreation Ground & Local Nature Reserve
- Bentley Heath Recreation Ground
- Damson Lane Park
- Dickens Heath Allotment (new winner)
- 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