Redbridge recognised as home to some of the best parks in the UK

Nine Redbridge Parks have once again received prestigious Green Flag Awards, recognising their high quality, conservation, community involvement and the hard work of park staff.

The Green Flag Award, founded in 1997, is an internationally recognised marker of high-quality parks and green spaces.

The Nine award-winning Redbridge parks are:

• Claybury Park
• Clayhall Park
• Elmhurst Gardens
• Goodmayes Park
• Hainault Forest
• Ilford War Memorial
• Seven Kings Park
• South Park
• Valentines Park

The Award follows years of extensive council investment into Redbridge parks and green spaces, including a £1.6m investment into new and refurbished playgrounds and outdoor gyms, including one of the largest outdoor gyms in London, which opened in Valentines Park in 2020.

As part of plans to deliver a Safer, Healthier and Cleaner Redbridge, the council has also recently rolled out a new Park Patrol Service to prevent and detect antisocial behaviour in the borough's parks.

The new service, Parkguard, patrols Redbridge parks to crack down on crime, antisocial behaviour and environmental crime through engagement, enforcement and education.

The Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, commented "I know just how important our parks are to local people. I grew up playing football in Seven Kings Park, I took my children to play in South Park when they were little, and now they're grown up; we walk our dogs together in Hainault Forest and visit the annual fair in Fairlop Waters.

"Parks can be a lifeline, a place to escape our busy lives and enjoy nature, and that's why as a council, we've invested so much in improving and protecting our green spaces, and I'm proud that our commitment has been recognised once again with this prestigious Award.

"These flags are a huge honour and a great tribute to the hard work of our parks team at Vision, as well as the local people and volunteers who contribute so much to making our parks places we can all be very proud of."

Commenting on the news Martin Solder, Chair of Vision Trustees, said: "I am delighted that we have been awarded nine Green Flag Awards for parks in Redbridge. Parks are vital spaces for our local communities, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their continued support in delivering these services."