Hundreds of people celebrated the start of Eid al-Adha at a community event yesterday (Wednesday 28 June) in West Ham Park, organised by the Humanitarian and Saving Lives Trust in partnership with the City of London Corporation.

Imam Mufti Shah Hamza Ahmed led a prayer amongst the park’s lush greenery and tranquil atmosphere.

It was the first large-scale Eid prayer to be held in West Ham Park.

West Ham Park is the largest park in the London Borough of Newham and is managed by the City Corporation as a registered charity. The City Corporation invests over £1 million a year in the park, which attracts over 1.3 million visitors annually . 

Chair of the City Corporation’s West Ham Park Committee and Natural Environment Board, Caroline Haines, said:

“It was a joy to welcome our local Muslim community to mark such a special and spiritual occasion amongst the park’s natural serenity.

“West Ham Park is a welcoming and inclusive space and people of all ages, faiths, and backgrounds volunteered to support the event.”

Md. Ashikur Rahman, Trustee of the Humanitarian and Saving Lives Trust, said:

“The serene ambiance of West Ham Park, with its lush greenery and soothing atmosphere, added a layer of spirituality and harmony to our prayers.

“We felt blessed to come together in such a delightful park, surrounded by nature's beauty. The exceptional support and encouragement from West Ham Park and the City Corporation was highly appreciated.”

City Corporation Common Councillor, Shahnan Bakth, who helped to organise the event, said:

“I was so pleased to help facilitate this community event in my hometown alongside the many volunteers, park management team, Caroline Haines, and the City Corporation.

“It is an especially poignant moment for me as I grew up here and this was my local park. I look forward to continuing this long-standing and positive relationship with the local community.”

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

The City Corporation’s green spaces, most of which are charitable trusts, are 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.

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

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