Redbridge parks fly the Green Flag

Redbridge residents will be overjoyed to learn that Redbridge parks are once again being recognised for the prestigious Green Flag award.

In Redbridge, we are fortunate to have 50 parks and open spaces where visitors can enjoy walks, children’s play areas, outdoor gyms, cafes or simply relax within the beautiful natural surroundings. Vision RCL is proud to manage and maintain these spaces on behalf of Redbridge Council.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

In a record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award, as the scheme marks its Silver Jubilee, 2127 parks are celebrating, including 9 of our very own.

The Redbridge parks to achieve Green Flag status for 2021/22 are:

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

Our premier park, Valentines Park is amongst the wonderful parks to receive this award. The park is a popular spot for visitors who can enjoy a range of facilities within the park plus our Grade II* listed building, Valentines Mansion. Another park to receive the award is one of our biggest country parks, Hainault Forest. The forest is currently under a huge restoration project which will see improvements to the site’s ecology and natural habitats, create a new visitor hub and facilities, improvements to the farm and much more.

Martin Solder, Chair of Trustees for Vision said:

“I am delighted that we have achieved accreditation for nine Green Flag parks in the borough again. Our green space is so important to local people and I am incredibly proud of all of our staff who work tirelessly to ensure that they are well maintained for our customers to enjoy on a daily basis.”

Cllr Kam Rai, Deputy Leader of Redbridge Council said: 

“I am absolutely thrilled to have nine of our amazing parks and green open spaces awarded this prestigious status from Green Flag. This reaffirms our commitment to our wonderful green spaces and is a reflection of the hard work of the Parks Team and the many resident friends groups.

It takes a huge amount of dedication to hold onto the Green Flag award but it’s worth it to make Redbridge parks places we can enjoy visiting and spend time in.”

Paul Todd, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager said:

“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making 9 Redbridge parks worthy of a Green Flag Award.

To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure that these Redbridge parks have high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and is a place that supports people to live healthy lives.”

The judging criteria for each site are based on a variety of factors including health and safety, maintenance, environment, biodiversity and more. Each site must achieve these Green Flag standards and is given a set of targets for improvements. Vision RCL is pleased to have achieved these awards year on year for our parks in Redbridge.

See all the information at: www.greenflagaward.org/