24 July 2009
City's Open Spaces awarded a record number of Green Flag and
Heritage Site awards
A total of 15 open spaces owned and managed by the City of
London Corporation have this year scooped Green Flag and Green
Heritage Site awards, it was announced yesterday (23 July). In
addition to this, the City Corporation won three out of seven
national Innovation awards.
Bunhill Fields, which is just outside the Square Mile’s border
in Islington and has been managed by the City Corporation for over
140 years, has won a Green Flag for the first time. All of the
other 14 sites have won Green Flags previously.
In the Innovation awards Burnham Beeches won in the Marketing
category, Hampstead Heath for Community Engagement and Queen’s Park
for Sustainability.
Two of the City’s open spaces – Hampstead Heath and West Ham
Park – were awarded Green Heritage Site status for the first time.
Five other City-owned open spaces – Epping Forest, Ashtead Common,
Burnham Beeches, Highgate Wood and the City of London Cemetery and
Crematorium – retained their heritage status (there are only 46
Green Heritage Sites across the country) which distinguishes them
as sites of historical significance that provide visitors with
effective information about the park’s past.
Sue Ireland, Director of Open Spaces at City of London
Corporation, said:
"We are absolutely delighted that the City of London’s green
spaces have once again been recognised as some of the best run and
well loved open spaces in the country. This is thanks to the
tremendous effort of staff and volunteers who work throughout the
year.
"It is extremely good news for us that three of our sites won
the prestigious special innovation awards. The addition of two new
City of London Green Heritage Awards reinforces the City of
London’s commitment to open space preservation and its role of
stewardship across Greater London.
"We would also like to thank 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.
Further information on Green Flag Awards can be found at
www.greenflagaward.org.uk
Ends
Notes to editors
The following 15 open spaces, owned and managed by the City of
London, have been awarded Green Flags for 2009:
- Bunhill Fields, City of London (First time winner)
- Queen’s Park, NW London (13th time winner)
- Hampstead Heath, NW London (12th time winner)
- West Ham Park, E London (11th time winner)
- Highgate Wood, NW London (13th time winner)
- City of London cemetery, E London (ninth time winner)
- Epping Forest, E London and Essex (seventh time winner)
- Ashtead Common, Surrey (seventh time winner)
- Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire (fifth time winner)
- Kenley Common, S London (seventh time winner) F
- arthing Downs and New Hill, S London (seventh time winner)
- Riddlesdown, S London (seventh time winner)
- Coulsdon Common, S London (seventh time winner)
- Spring Park, S London (sixth time winner)
- West Wickham Common, S London (sixth time winner)
The City of London’s seven open spaces to
be awarded Green Heritage Site status for 2009:
- Epping Forest
- Burnham Beeches
- Highgate Wood
- City of London Cemetery
- Ashtead Common
- West Ham Park - First time winner
- Hampstead Heath
- For information on all winners, please visit
www.greenflagaward.org.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.
Press contact
For press information or
images of the City’s open spaces, please call Loretta Lui on 020
7332 1528