Haringey achieves record number of award-winning parks
Thursday 17 July 2008
Haringey’s greenest borough ambitions have received a major boost after a record 12 parks and open spaces in the borough were formally recognised as among the best in the country.
The Green Flag announcement by the Civic Trust on Thursday 17 July means Haringey has more award-winning parks than virtually any other borough in London.
Chestnuts Park in N15 became the latest council-run park to be awarded Green Flag status following a £560,000 restoration programme funded by the council, The Bridge New Deal for Communities and the Lottery.
The improvement programme, agreed in consultation with the Friends of Chestnuts and local residents, has seen the creation of a new playground and multi-use games area for football, basketball and other sports, as well as a new café terrace and wildflower meadow.
All of Haringey Council’s previous eight Green Flag Parks successfully regained the award this year, with only Westminster Council achieving more Green Flag for its parks.
The Haringey-managed Green Flag parks are:
- Albert Road Recreation Ground, N22 (third year winner)
- Bruce Castle Park, N17 (sixth year winner)
- Chapmans Green, N22 (third year winner)
- Chestnuts Park, N15 (first year winner)
- Downhills Park, N15 (fourth year winner)
- Finsbury Park, N4 (second year winner)
- Priory Park, N8 (sixth year winner)
- Railway Field Local Nature Reserve, N4 (fifth year winner)
- Stationers Park, N8 (ffith year winner)
The Civic Trust also awarded Green Flag status to Highgate Wood (run by the Corporation of London), Alexandra Park (run by the Alexandra Palace Trust) and Tottenham Marshes (run by the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority).
Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Dhiren Basu, said:
“We have worked extremely hard to create some of the best parks in the country here in Haringey, and it is fantastic that this has once again been recognised by the Civic Trust.
“I’d like to thank our Friends groups and community organisations across the borough for all the help they’ve given us.
“We believe that good quality parks and open spaces can make a huge difference to people’s quality of life, particularly in an urban environment. Not only do they improve the appearance of our borough, they also offer attractive settings for exercise and relaxation.
“I’m delighted that Chestnuts Park has been awarded Green Flag status for the first time. We will now press on and seek to deliver even more award-winning parks for our residents.”
As part of its Greenest Borough Strategy, agreed on Monday 14 July, the council has set itself a target of achieving 12 Green Flag parks by 2010.
The Civic Trust also awarded three Green Pennants to community gardens in the borough.
These were for The Gardens Community Garden, Doncaster Gardens, N4, and Bowes Park Community Garden Group, Myddleton Road, N22 – both previous award winners – and Mannock Road Allotments, N22, a first time winner.
More information on Haringey’s parks and green spaces can be found at www.haringey.gov.uk/greenspaces.
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