Wandsworth Council raises seven Green Flags during ‘Love Parks Week’

To mark this success, yesterday (Thursday 25 July) the Green Flag was proudly raised at Coronation Gardens in Southfields.

The ceremony celebrated not just the beauty of Coronation Gardens, but also the hard work and dedication of the people who maintain the space to such a high standard, including the Friends of Group and Park Officers from Enable, who manage parks and green spaces for Wandsworth.

The Green Flag is a symbol that is internationally-recognised, with each location having to demonstrate high environmental standards.

The other Wandsworth borough parks awarded Green Flags are:

• Battersea Park
• Fred Wells Gardens
• Garratt Park
• Tooting Common
• Wandsworth Common
• Wandsworth Park

In the coming weeks, the Green Flag will be raised at these locations.

The borough’s cabinet member for environment Cllr Judi Gasser said: “Our parks are vital community assets that provide residents with places to relax, play, and enjoy nature. So, winning seven prestigious Green Flag awards is an incredible achievement.

“To be recognised by the judges in this way is a reflection of the hard work our teams put into maintaining these wonderful spaces across the borough.”

The Green Flag award is managed by Keep Britain Tidy under license from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Established in 1996, the Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the UK and around the world.

To qualify for a Green Flag, parks must meet rigorous standards in areas such as environmental management, biodiversity, community involvement, and overall cleanliness and maintenance. Specifically, the criteria include:

1. A Welcoming Place: Parks must be inviting, clean, and safe for visitors.
2. Healthy, Safe, and Secure: Parks must provide a healthy and secure environment for visitors.
3. Well Maintained and Clean: Parks must be well maintained with appropriate facilities.
4. Environmental Management: Parks must implement sound environmental management policies.
5. Biodiversity, Landscape, and Heritage: Parks must promote and support biodiversity, preserve landscapes, and protect heritage sites.
6. Community Involvement: Parks must engage with the community and encourage their involvement.
7. Marketing: Parks must effectively promote their facilities and initiatives.
8. Management: Parks must have clear management plans in place to ensure their upkeep and improvement.

Keep Britain Tidy is an environmental charity. It sets the standard for the management of parks, inspiring people to be litter-free, to waste less and live more sustainably. To find out more about its campaigns visit www.keepbritaintidy.org

'Love Parks Week' is the latest campaign from Keep Britain Tidy and it kicks off today (Friday 26 July).

Enable manages parks and green spaces on behalf of Wandsworth Borough Council.