Published: Tuesday 18 July 2023
Updated: Tuesday 18 July 2023
Keep Britain Tidy has recognised the success of Kensington and Chelsea in providing well managed, good quality green and open spaces, accessible to everyone with the award of 11 of their prestigious Green Flags.
Parks across the borough, together with the Lancaster West Estate in North Kensington, have again received the award.
Welcoming the result, Cllr Emma Will, Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, said:
“This achievement shows the commitment and passion of our parks and housing staff to ensuring that our parks and open spaces are maintained to the highest standards. We are also improving biodiversity in the borough, such as with our bee superhighway, which is helping to make the borough a much greener place to live.
“We know residents have always enjoyed the beauty of our public spaces, but being one of the most densely populated boroughs in London also means that for many parks can be their only green space. It’s vital they are maintained to the highest standard and the same is true of our estates, so it is heartening to see that Lancaster West has maintained it’s well deserved Green Flag.”
Who won a Green Flag?
- Avondale Park
- Cremorne Gardens
- Emslie Hornimans Pleasance
- Gunnersbury Cemetery
- Holland Park (which has held the award for over 20 years)
- Kensington Memorial Park
- Lancaster West Estate
- Little Wormwood Scrubs
- St Luke’s Gardens
- Tavistock Square Gardens
- Westfield Park
Feedback from the judges
Judges commented that the “standards of grounds maintenance is really good and you can tell that the park is really cared for” in Cremorne park in Chelsea and recognised the “Good links to wider community groups who actively engage within the park and make a positive impact” in Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance in North Kensington.
They also added about Lancaster West Estate: “Staff and community volunteers have been working very hard to take each and every opportunity to add greening, growing, biodiversity and colour to spaces that are underused or need to be cared for and loved.”
What does a Green Flag award mean?
The Green Flag awards were created by Keep Britain Tidy to:
- ensure that everybody has access to quality green and other open spaces, irrespective of where they live
- ensure that these spaces are appropriately managed and meet the needs of the communities that they serve
- establish standards of good management
- promote and share good practice amongst the green space sector
- recognise and reward the hard work of managers, staff and volunteers