17 July 2008
Waving the Green Flag: City open spaces success in Green Flag
and Heritage Site awards
A total of 14 open spaces owned and managed by the City of
London Corporation have this year scooped Green Flag and Green
Heritage Site awards, the Civic Trust announced today
(Thursday).
All of the City Corporation’s open spaces have won Green Flags
previously. For Queen’s Park, in North West London and Highgate
Wood in North London this was the 12th consecutive annual award.
Five of the City’s open spaces – Epping Forest, Ashtead Common,
Burnham Beeches, Highgate Wood and City of London Cemetery and
Crematorium - retained their Green Heritage Site status, which
recognises the particular site’s historic features and high
standards of conservation.
Sue Ireland, Director of Open Spaces at City of London
Corporation, said: “It is wonderful that the City of London’s
parks, commons and forests have once again been recognised as some
of the best run and well loved open spaces in the country.
“It is testament to the hard work and dedication of staff and
volunteers who work throughout the year to maintain and protect our
open spaces, both now and for future generations to enjoy.
“We really appreciate all the hard work of the judges who gave
their time for free to this very worthwhile scheme.”
The Green Flag Award scheme recognises the value of green spaces
to communities, and recognises staff and managing organisations
that are dedicated to providing excellent green spaces for the
community.
A record 743 Green Flag Awards have been awarded to sites across
the country this year.
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.”
This year’s winners will celebrate their achievements and
collect their flags at a major ceremony in Liverpool on Thursday 24
July.
Further information on Green Flag Awards can be found at
www.greenflagaward.org.uk
Ends
Notes to editors
The following 14 open spaces, owned and managed by the City of
London, have been awarded Green Flags for 2007:
- Queen’s Park, NW London (12th time winner)
- Hampstead Heath, NW London (11th time winner)
- West Ham Park, E London (10th time winner)
- Highgate Wood, NW London (12th time winner)
- City of London cemetery, E London (eighth time winner)
- Epping Forest, E London and Essex (sixth time winner)
- Ashtead Common, Surrey (sixth time winner)
- Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire (fourth time winner)
- Kenley Common, S London (sixth time winner)
- Farthing Downs and New Hill, S London (sixth time winner)
- Riddlesdown, S London (sixth time winner)
- Coulsdon Common, S London (sixth time winner)
- Spring Park, S London (fifth time winner)
- West Wickham Common, S London (fifth time winner)
The City of London’s five open spaces to be awarded Green
Heritage Site status for 2008:
- Epping Forest
- Burnham Beeches
- Highgate Wood
- City of London Cemetery
- Ashtead Common
- For information on all winners, please visit
www.greenflagaward.or.uk
- The Green Flag Award scheme, launched in 1996, is managed by
the Civic Trust on behalf of Communities and Local Government and
the Green Flag Advisory Board which comprises founders of the
scheme, sponsors, winners and judges. It is sponsored by
Communities and Local Government, English Heritage, The Countryside
Agency, English Nature and in Wales by the Countryside Council for
Wales, the Design Commission for Wales, Environment Agency Wales
and the Welsh Assembly Government.
- Any green space that is freely accessible to the public is
eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award. Awards are given on
an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their
Green Flag status. A Green Pennant Award recognises quality
sites managed by voluntary and community groups. Green Heritage
Site accreditation is judged on the treatment of the site’s
historic features and the standard of conservation. This
year, 72 community run sites received a Green Pennant Award and 42
Green Flag Award sites achieved Green Heritage Site
Accreditation.
- The Civic Trust is an independent, national charity, founded in
1957. It works with people to promote thriving towns and
villages, developing partnerships between communities, government
and business to deliver regeneration and local improvement. Error!
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Press contact
For press information or images of the City’s open spaces,
please call Lesley Mair at the City of London on 020 7332
1754.
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
Lesley Mair
T: 020 7332 1754
M: 07785 528 453