Turnham Green Park Wins Green Flag Award

One of eight parks in the borough rated for its high standard

Turnham Green in Chiswick has been rated one of the best parks in the country for the third year in a row.

A record eight parks across the borough have been awarded the 'Green Flag' award from the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.

Last year the wildflower meadow organised by the Friends of Turnham Green was praised while the redesign of the rockery has now added to the high standards maintained by the park and created a haven for local residents to escape from the busy High Road.

Image; Ian Wylie

This year, St John’s Gardens and Feltham Park join Beaversfield Park, Bedfont Lakes Country Park, Boston Manor Park, Crane Park, Hanworth Park and Turnham Green in winning the prestigious Green Flag status.

The national award recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to visitors that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.

Image of Turnham Green - Ian Wylie

Cllr Ajmer Grewal, Hounslow’s cabinet member for leisure and public health, said: “I’m delighted that eight of our parks and open spaces now hold the Green Flag award – the highest number the borough has ever achieved!

“Having well-managed, high-quality green spaces for everyone to enjoy goes a long way towards improving the quality of life for communities, with the added benefit of providing venues for important health and leisure activities.

“A lot of work has gone into bringing and maintaining these eight parks to this standard, both from our grounds staff but also from the many volunteers and members of friends groups who have been involved in the management of the sites, and I would like to thank them for their efforts.

“I hope that with the great weather we’ve been having as many people as possible will go out and make the most of our award-winning parks.”

St John's Gardens is a small local park much loved and supported by the local community. The council worked with local residents, police and the local friends group on a number of ‘park action days’ to carry out maintenance to make the park feel safer and encourage more local people to use it.

In 2011, the friends group was successfully awarded £37,500 from the London Marathon Trust, on top of £100,000 from the council, for refurbishment of the children’s play area

Feltham Park was formally known as Feltham recreation ground, and has several well maintained sports pitches for organised and casual games as well as a set of tennis courts.

The park once suffered from many acts of anti-social behaviour and vandalism but this has been turned around and visitor numbers are on the increase. The council are investing in a new, modern, play area which will be installed at the end of the year to further revitalise the area.

Friends of St. John's Garden on planting day

Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd, said: “We are thrilled to announce yet another record-breaking year for Green Flag Award parks and green spaces.

“A Green Flag Award provides national recognition for the hard work and dedication of all the parks managers, staff and volunteers who have helped to create these fantastic places for all to enjoy.

“Quality green spaces are absolutely essential to happy, healthy communities. They are fundamental to our quality of life, whether in cities, towns or villages. That is why it is so significant that we have given out more awards than ever before.”

Keep Britain Tidy runs the Green Flag Award scheme in the UK on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government. It is run in partnership with Keep Wales Tidy, Tidy Northern Ireland, Keep Scotland Beautiful, the National Housing Federation and the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens.

Any green space that is 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 Flag Community 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. 

July 30, 2013