Haringey holds onto 25 'Green Flags' for borough's parks

The Green Flag Award Scheme has again praised Haringey’s green spaces – despite rising tensions over council management, reports Miriam Balanescu

Haringey Council has retained 25 ‘Green Flags’ recognising the borough’s parks – despite rising tensions over the council’s management of green spaces.

The parks recognised by The Green Flag Award Scheme, which reward well-managed parks and green spaces, include 22 managed by the council, as well as Alexandra Park (run by the Alexandra Park & Palace Charitable Trust), Highgate Wood (managed by the Corporation of London) and Tottenham Marshes (run by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority).

Out of 50 Green Flag ‘community awards’, the Friends of Lordship Recreation Ground, The Gardens Residents’ Association and The Friends of Hornsey Church Tower were also praised for their work on the Lordship Woodland, the Gardens Community Garden and Hornsey Churchyard respectively.

This is despite ongoing criticism over the council’s management of parks, notably the hiring out of Finsbury Park for large-scale events such as Wireless Festival – which residents and the Friends of Finsbury Park claim cause extensive damage to the park’s grounds.

Cllr Emily Arkell, cabinet member for culture, communities and leisure, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we have retained all 22 of our Green Flag Awards this year. This is a testament to our fantastic parks team, as well as our many friends groups and other community initiatives who put in so much time and effort to make our parks clean, safe and welcoming places for people to enjoy.

“I’d also like to congratulate the Friends of Lordship Rec, The Gardens Residents’ Association and the Friends of Hornsey Church Tower on their Green Flag Community Awards – really fantastic and well-deserved achievements that highlight the priceless contribution that communities make to our parks and greenspaces.

“We know just how important our parks are for everyone here in Haringey. I look forward to working together with residents to implement our new Parks and Greenspaces Strategy to ensure our parks are fully inclusive and accessible so that all our diverse communities can benefit from everything that these wonderful spaces have to offer.”

The award scheme, run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, is now in its third decade and is decided on by an expert panel of judges.

Highgate Wood has won an award each year since the awards were founded in 1966, one of just three spaces to do so.

Chair of the City Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park committee, William Upton KC, said:

“These awards are testament to the hard work and dedication of our world-class staff and volunteers.

“I am so proud of everything they do to keep our open spaces in top condition for our millions of visitors.”

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