The City of London Corporation has won Green Flag status at 15 of its open spaces.

 The prestigious scheme is an international benchmark, recognising some of the very best managed parks and green spaces in the world.

The award, run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy and overseen by a panel of expert judges, is now into its third decade. 

14 City Corporation sites also claimed the Green Heritage accreditation in recognition of their historic features and high standards of conservation.

The City Corporation protects over 11,000 acres of open space in London and south east England – including Burnham Beeches, Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath and over 180 sites in the Square Mile – investing over £38m a year.

These sites, most of which are charitable trusts, are run at little or no cost to the communities that they serve.

The winners are: 

• Ashtead Common
• Bunhill Fields Burial Ground
• Burnham Beeches
• City of London Cemetery and Crematorium
• Coulsdon Common
• Epping Forest
• Farthing Downs and New Hill
• Hampstead Heath
• Highgate Wood
• Kenley Common
• Queen’s Park
• Riddlesdown
• Spring Park
• West Ham Park
• West Wickham Common

Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park have won the award every year since it was launched in 1996, a feat achieved by only two other green spaces in the country.

Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Natural Environment Board, Caroline Haines, said:

“These awards are testament to the hard work and dedication of our world-class staff and volunteers. I am so proud of everything they do to keep our open spaces in top condition for our millions of visitors.

“These sites are a vital resource for the health and wellbeing of our planet and society. We will continue to protect them for the benefit of our communities across London and southeast England.”

The City Corporation’s open spaces remove an estimated 16,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere every year, equivalent to 44% of the organisation’s annual carbon footprint.

They include important wildlife habitats, Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and National Nature Reserves. They are protected from being built on by special legislation.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

About the City of London Corporation

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

About the Green Flag Award Scheme

The Green Flag Award Scheme (http://greenflagaward.org/) is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

About Keep Britain Tidy

Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity. We set the standard for the management of parks and beaches, inspire people to be litter-free, to waste less and live more sustainably. We run campaigns and programmes including the Great British Spring Clean, Eco-Schools, Love Parks, Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/ Seaside Awards for beaches. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, our campaigns and programmes visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.