Six Islington green spaces recognised in prestigious Green Flag Awards

The awards, an international quality standard for parks and green spaces, were given to Highbury Fields, Caledonian Park, Fortune Street Park, Wray Crescent Open Space and Landseer Gardens. 

Meanwhile, Gillespie Park retained the Green Flag status that it was awarded last year.  

In addition, Arlington Square Gardens, Mary Tealby Peace Garden in Paradise Park and King Henry’s Walk Gardens all won Community Green Flag Awards, which community groups apply for themselves.  

This year, the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown highlighted the importance of green spaces as resources for local people to exercise, relax and boost mental health, particularly for those that do not have an outdoor space of their own at home. 

The rise in demand for green spaces has seen volunteers, community groups, and council staff work extra hard to keep them looking clean, tidy and beautiful for everyone, and the Green Flag Awards are recognition of their efforts. 

Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “As part of our commitment to a cleaner, greener future, Islington Council is determined to ensure that our green spaces are the best they possibly can be, in order to boost ecological diversity and provide a safe space for local people to exercise and relax.  

“We’re proud of Islington’s green spaces, which we believe are among the best in the country, and the Green Flag Awards are a fantastic endorsement of them.  

“These awards would not have been possible without the outstanding efforts of council staff, conservation volunteers and community groups, who work so hard to keep our green spaces clean and tidy. This year the coronavirus pandemic has made their work even more challenging, and we’re all so grateful to them for their efforts.” 

The Green Flag Awards, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognise and reward well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the nation. The Islington sites are among more than 2,000 green spaces across the country to collect the award for 2020.  

Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “This year, more than ever, our parks and green spaces have been a lifeline and we know that millions of people have used them to relax, meet friends, exercise or simply escape for a short time. 

“It is testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of parks staff and volunteers that, despite the challenges that went along with record numbers of visitors, Islington Council has achieved the highest international standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.” 

The Green Flag Awards Scheme is run by Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, in partnership in the UK with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. The scheme also operates in an additional 14 countries including Portugal, New Zealand and the USA. 

Any green space that is free to enter and accessible to the public is eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award.