A new park in Richmond has been awarded a Green Flag as sixteen others celebrate receiving it again

In the 2017 inspection, the borough has been re-awarded all sixteen of its Green Flags for its parks and open spaces managed by the council, in addition to Carlisle Park, in Hampton, receiving the coveted award for the first time.

The Green Flag award scheme began in 1996 to recognise and acknowledges the high standards of park facilities, including maintenance and community engagement.

Paul Todd, international Green Flag Award scheme manager, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme.

“Each flag is a celebration of the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. The success of the scheme, especially in these challenging times, demonstrates just how much parks matter to people.”

Successful parks and green spaces are eligible to fly the ‘Green Flag’ for 1 year after which they have to re-apply to retain the award but the park or green space must maintain and improve on previous standards to be guaranteed a subsequent award.

The 17 awards went to Cambridge Gardens, Carlisle Park, Crane Park (Jt with Hounslow), Garricks Lawn, Ham Village Green, Hampton Common, Hatherop Park, Kew Green , Kneller Gardens, Palewell Common & Fields, Radnor Gardens, Richmond Green, Terrace Gardens and Buccleuch Gardens, The King's Field, Twickenham Green, Westerly Ware and York House Gardens.