Agenda item

Open Spaces Awards

Report of the Chairman of the Open Spaces & City Gardens Committee, and West Ham Park Committee.

“I am delighted to announce that the City Corporation’s Open Spaces have again received several prestigious Green Flag and London in Bloom Awards.

The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces and aims to recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country. All sites must be freely accessible to the public and perform well against eight criteria, including safety and security, cleanliness, management and sustainability. This year the following Open Spaces retained the Award: Ashtead Common, Bunhill Fields, Burnham Beeches, 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 and the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium.

Green Heritage Site accreditation, which is sponsored by English Heritage, is awarded in recognition of achieving the required standard in the management and interpretation of a site with local or national historic importance. The following Open Spaces retained their Green Heritage Site accreditation this year to acknowledge the heritage value of the sites: Ashtead Common, Bunhill Fields, Burnham Beeches, Epping Forest, Farthing Downs and New Hill, Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, Kenley Common, Queen's Park, West Ham Park and the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium. In addition, Riddlesdown was awarded Green Heritage accreditation for the first time this year, meaning that the City Corporation now holds 15 Green Flag and 12 Green Heritage Awards. 

The City Corporation’s Open Spaces were also successful at the London In Bloom Awards, held on the 8 September 2014. The City achieved eight gold awards and one silver gilt award, and was awarded category winner in the small park, large park and small cemetery Categories. The City Gardens within the Square Mile were awarded the Borough of the Year Award.

Having scored consistently highly in both the regional and national campaigns of In Bloom over recent years, the City Gardens team has been entered into the Britain in Bloom Champion of Champions award this year. This prestigious award will be announced at a ceremony in Bristol this evening. An update on the results will be circulated following this meeting.

The achievement of these Awards is a great tribute to the dedication and hard work of all the staff in the Open Spaces Department and the large teams of local volunteers who help to maintain the high quality of our Open Spaces. 

I commend these achievements to the Court.”

Open Spaces Awards

Report of the Chairman of the Open Spaces & City Gardens Committee, and West Ham Park Committee.

“I am delighted to announce that the City Corporation’s Open Spaces have again received several prestigious Green Flag and London in Bloom Awards.

The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces and aims to recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country. All sites must be freely accessible to the public and perform well against eight criteria, including safety and security, cleanliness, management and sustainability. This year the following Open Spaces retained the Award: Ashtead Common, Bunhill Fields, Burnham Beeches, 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 and the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium.

Green Heritage Site accreditation, which is sponsored by English Heritage, is awarded in recognition of achieving the required standard in the management and interpretation of a site with local or national historic importance. The following Open Spaces retained their Green Heritage Site accreditation this year to acknowledge the heritage value of the sites: Ashtead Common, Bunhill Fields, Burnham Beeches, Epping Forest, Farthing Downs and New Hill, Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, Kenley Common, Queen's Park, West Ham Park and the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium. In addition, Riddlesdown was awarded Green Heritage accreditation for the first time this year, meaning that the City Corporation now holds 15 Green Flag and 12 Green Heritage Awards. 

The City Corporation’s Open Spaces were also successful at the London In Bloom Awards, held on the 8 September 2014. The City achieved eight gold awards and one silver gilt award, and was awarded category winner in the small park, large park and small cemetery Categories. The City Gardens within the Square Mile were awarded the Borough of the Year Award.

Read and received.