London,
17
July
2008
|
23:00
Europe/London

National award for seven parks in Hackney

Hackney’s Parks Service has achieved seven prestigious Green Flag awards and a Green Heritage award in this year’s national awards for parks and green spaces.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by the Civic Trust, is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales.

Of the 26 London boroughs given Green Flag Awards this year, only eight including Hackney have seven or more. This achievement is a significant improvement on last year when Hackney received four Green Flags, up from two in 2006.

Clissold Park, Hackney Downs, Haggerston Park and Springfield Park have been joined by London Fields, St John’s Churchyard, and Shoreditch Park as Green Flag Award holders, a total of seven Awards to the borough. St John’s has also been awarded Green Heritage Site status.

Councillor Nargis Khan, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: "This is a wonderful achievement for all the people who help make Hackney parks special places to visit within the borough. The Parks were recognised by Green Flag for being welcoming, safe and well looked after, with strong involvement by staff, User Groups and local people. The awards are evidence of the ever improving quality of our parks and open spaces and we are delighted the dedication of all concerned has been recognised in this way.”

The Green Flag Award recognises high quality green spaces with excellent environmental standards. Eligible parks must have a five year management plan.

As part of the scheme, two of the borough’s community sites have also been recognised this year. Hackney Tree Nursery at Hackney Marshes and Core Gardens, which sits within Core Arts in Homerton, both achieved a Green Pennant Award. These are given to community and voluntary groups who successfully manage their own green spaces. The sites were identified and supported in their applications by the Council’s Parks Service.

Hackney will apply for more Green Flag awards in the future as part of the overall investment and promotion of the borough’s parks and open spaces.

Paul Todd, Green Flag Award scheme Application Manager, said: “The increasing number of Green Flag Award winning parks and green spaces highlight the important role they play in bringing people together and improving their quality of life. Congratulations to all the management, staff, and in particular, thousands of volunteers whose hard work and dedication has brought this award of excellence.”

The awards were announced by Green Flag on 17 July. Hackney Council Parks Service will join this year’s other winners at a ceremony in Liverpool on 24 July to celebrate their achievements and collect their flags.

For more information about the Green Flag Award Scheme visit http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk/