Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Green and pleasant land
HILLINGDON COMES OUT TOP AGAIN AS THIS YEAR’S GREEN FLAGS ARE ANNOUNCED
Hillingdon Council has been awarded an outstanding total of 47 Green Flags, making it the local authority with the highest number of top-quality parks and green spaces in the UK for the fifth year running.
The second largest borough in London has topped the list above other areas and also managed to achieve its best ever results, adding five new Green Flags since last year.
Hillingdon has more than 200 parks and green spaces, making it the capital’s greenest borough.
Councillor Jonathan Bianco, cabinet member for finance, property and business services, said: “Green Flags are the highest accolade a park can receive and they require a great deal of time and hard work to achieve.
“To not only retain all the Green Flags we’ve achieved over the years but to keep increasing our total, is a staggering achievement of which everyone involved can feel incredibly proud.
“I would like to commend the efforts of the council teams who look after the parks, as well as the community groups and volunteers who make it possible for us to maintain such a high standard.
“With summer in full swing, I encourage everyone to get out and explore the green spaces we have on our doorsteps.”
As well as boasting the highest number of premier parks in the UK, Hillingdon officially has the most Green Flags in the world as the competition is now open to international entrants. The new Green Flag parks are: Coney Green, Hillingdon The Gravel Pitts, Northwood Long Meadow, Eastcote Cherry Lane Cemetery Harlington Hayes
Southlands Arts Centre, West Drayton
Hillingdon Council also helped Stockley Park Business Park in Yiewsley achieve Green Flag status for the first time.
To be awarded a Green Flag, parks and green spaces must meet stringent criteria, proving themselves to be welcoming, community-orientated, friendly to the environment, well managed and clean.
The Green Flag awards are judged by a group of environmental charities including Keep Britain Tidy.
For more information on the awards and a full list of sites in the London Borough of Hillingdon, plus details of all the events and activities happening in parks, please visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/greenspaces.