Green Flag winners announced for 2008

A record 743 green spaces across the country, all freely accessible to the public, have received a Green Flag Award - the national standard for quality parks and green spaces. Winners are judged to be welcoming and well maintained with the support and involvement of the local community.

There are 151 winners in Greater London, including the following Open Garden Squares Weekend participants:

• Camley Street Natural Park, London Wildlife Trust
• Canons Park, London Borough of Harrow
• Eden at St. Paul's Churchyard, London Borough of Lambeth
• Edward Square, London Borough of Islington
• Myddelton House Gardens, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
• Rembrandt Gardens, City of Westminster
• Russell Square Gardens, London Borough of Camden
• St Martin's Gardens, London Borough of Camden
• The Wildlife Garden, The Natural History Museum
• Victoria Embankment Gardens, City of Westminster

For the complete list, please see http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk/winners/greater-london/

The scheme is currently expanding nationally and internationally - three parks in Northern Ireland, one park in the Republic of Ireland, five parks in Scotland and two parks in Holland have this year also received a Green Flag Award due to ambitious pilot projects.

This year’s winners were announced from Green Flag Award-winning Bellingham Green, in an area of Lewisham highlighted by government as a transformed area of regeneration, demonstrating how residents working together with public agencies can transform deprived neighbourhoods. The Green is vibrant, lively and has significantly improved the livelihood and well-being of the local community.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Baroness Andrews said:

“I would like to congratulate all those whose hard work has resulted in this year’s green flag winners. In our busy modern lives, parks and green spaces are invaluable as areas where young and old can come together to relax, exercise and play.

“Bellingham Green is a great example of this and shows just how important green spaces can be for everyone in the community. The regeneration of green spaces is just as important as the creation of new ones and Bellingham Green is a shining example of how we can take up this challenge and transform no-go areas into centre-points of the community.”