Green Flag Awards For Local Parks

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Recognition for well-maintained facilities

Four parks in and around Wimbledon have been named as among the best in the country.

Colliers Wood Rec, Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Playing Field, John Innes and South Park Gardens (right) have received the Green Flag Award, a sign to visitors that the park is well-maintained and well-managed, with excellent facilities.

The grounds are among a record number of parks and green spaces receiving the Green Flag Award this year, ensuring that even more people now have access to well-managed, high-quality green spaces.

In 2011, 1,288 parks and green spaces will fly either the Green Flag or Community Award, a sign that the value of green space is widely acknowledged as vital to our communities.

Cabinet member for community and culture, Councillor Martin Whelton said: "The Green Flag award reflects the hard work that our parks team put into maintaining the high standards of our green spaces. We are proud to have four parks in Merton that are among the best in the country".

Green Flag Plus Partnership chairman Phil Barton, said: "I would like to congratulate this year’s winners, who have worked hard throughout the year to keep their parks and green spaces at a high standard and ensure they are pleasant and enjoyable spaces for the whole community.

"The Green Flag Award Scheme, and its growth, is essential in driving up the standards of our parks and green spaces. Access to quality green space is something we all desire and the scheme plays a key role in providing it.

"In these challenging financial times it is heartening that the number of Green Flag Awards continue to grow. As the value of green space and the role it plays in our communities strengthens, we must ensure these high standards remain."

August 7, 2011