03
July
2017
|
16:32
Europe/London

New picnic tables unveiled at Wanstead Park

On Wednesday (28 June), brand new benches and picnic tables were unveiled at Heronry Pond near the Tea Hut in Wanstead Park, Epping Forest.

Through a joint partnership between the City of London Corporation, the Friends of Wanstead Park, Groundwork and Tesco, families will now be able to enjoy improved lakeside seating by the pond.

The seating consists of three picnic table areas and six brand new benches along the pond providing picturesque views underneath the shade of nearby trees.

A grant of £8,000 was awarded to the Friends of Wanstead Park by Tesco Bags for Help scheme for the project.

The City Corporation supplied and installed the benches and tables with the work completing in mid June.

Philip Woodhouse, Chairman of the City Corporation’s Epping Forest and City Commons Committee said:

“I hope that the new facilities encourage more families and the local community to visit Wanstead Park and enjoy this sanctuary in east London.

“By working together with the community, we have been able to enhance and improve the experience enjoyed by our visitors.”

John Meehan, Chair of the Friends of Wanstead Park said:

“This was a great example of the Friends of Wanstead Park working in partnership with the City of London Corporation. We applied for the Tesco’s funding for the benefit of local people and received a 1,000 strong petition in support from local park users.

“If people want to help improve Wanstead Park more than they can join the Friends on www.wansteadpark.org.uk and join the current 500 Friends. We look forward to many more improvements in Wanstead Park arising from the forthcoming Parkland Plan and the possible Heritage Lottery Bid.”

The City of London Corporation manages 18 major green spaces in London and south east England, including Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, and over 200 smaller ones in the Square Mile.

They include important wildlife habitats, sites of scientific interest and national nature reserves and they are protected from being built on by special legislation.

These green spaces, most of which are charitable trusts, are funded by over £28 million a year from the City Corporation, and are run at little or no cost to the communities that they serve.

-Ends-

Media enquiries

Carl Locsin, Public Services Media Officer, City of London Corporation

T 020 7332 3654 / M 0738 862 229

E carl.locsin@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Notes to editors

About the City of London Corporation

The City of London Corporation provides local government and policing services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. In addition, the City Corporation has three roles:

  • We support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration, education and skills. In addition, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, City Bridge Trust, makes grants of around £20 million annually to tackle disadvantage across London.
  • We also help look after key London heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, the Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important commons in London.
  • We also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events and research-driven policies, all reflecting a long-term approach.

See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for more details.

About Tesco Bags for Help scheme

  • Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities. Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online.
  • The Bags of Help initiative is supported by money from the five pence charge levied on single-use carrier bags in Tesco stores.
  • So far Bags of Help has awarded £30 million to more than 4,600 community projects.

About Groundwork London

Groundwork London is a social and environmental regeneration charity. For almost 20 years we’ve been at the forefront of environmental and social regeneration in London; changing places and lives for the better, in some of the capital’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.Groundwork London is a registered charity - No. 1121105 / For more information visit www.groundwork.org.uk/london or follow us on Twitter @GroundworkLON or on Facebook www.facebook.com/GroundworkLondon