The City of London Corporation is celebrating after winning five honours in the 2023 London in Bloom competition.

The organisation manages over 11,000 acres of open space in London and southeast England, including Epping Forest and Burnham Beeches, and over 180 smaller sites in the Square Mile, investing over £38m a year.

Most of these sites are charitable trusts and run at little or no cost to the communities that they serve. They include important wildlife habitats, Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and National Nature Reserves.

Golders Hill Park, which the City Corporation manages in Barnet, was awarded Gold, and revealed as the overall winner in the Large Park category.

 West Ham Park in Newham, and Queen’s Park in Brent, also bagged Gold awards in the same category.

The Hill Garden and The Pergola, on Hampstead Heath, both won Gold in the Small Park and Walled Garden categories, respectively.

 London in Bloom awards are assessed by expert judges and honour the commitment of Londoners to enhancing the greenery of the capital city.

 Entries are invited every year from local authorities, parks, friends’ groups, community groups, and schools across London who want to improve their local environment.

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

“These achievements reflect the remarkable dedication of our team members, volunteers, officials, and friends’ groups, all year round.

 “We are committed to offering green spaces across the capital, for the benefit of local people and visitors to enjoy some quiet and reflective time.

 “Our collaboration with local communities plays a vital role in this endeavour.”

 Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee, William Upton KC, said:

“These great results are a testament to our work in providing green and open spaces to Londoners across the capital.  

“We are particularly pleased that Golders Hill Park has been declared the overall winner in its category, as it was a place close to the heart of our late colleague Declan Gallagher who we sadly lost earlier this year.

 “These awards truly recognise the hard work and dedication of our staff and our volunteers in nurturing and preserving these green spaces.”

 The City Corporation’s green spaces remove around 16,000 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere a year, equivalent to 44% of the City Corporation’s annual carbon footprint and are protected from being built on by special legislation.

 ENDS

Notes to editors

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