Gunpowder Park in Waltham Abbey
Lee Valley Regional Park Awarded Nine Prestigious Green Flag Awards
Release date:
16 July 2024
Nine open spaces, gardens and heritage sites in Lee Valley Regional Park have been recognised as among the best green spaces in the country after retaining a prestigious international award for the 16th year in a row.
They have all reached the high standards required to receive a coveted Green Flag Award, the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
A tenth Green Flag will fly at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park which is jointly managed by The London Legacy Development Corporation and Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. This accolade is now in its 11thyear.
With visitor numbers remaining high - 6,45 million visits last year alone - Lee Valley Regional Park’s open spaces and gardens continue to provide a vital space for people to lead healthy lifestyles, whether it’s exercising, reconnecting with nature, relaxing or meeting friends.
A Green Flag will continue to fly at the following sites across Lee Valley Regional Park:
Bow Creek Ecology Park in Canning Town, East London
Gunpowder Park in Waltham Abbey, Essex
Myddelton House Gardens in Enfield, North London
River Lee Country Park in Hertfordshire and Essex
Rye House Gatehouse in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire
Tottenham Marshes in North London
Waltham Abbey Gardens in Waltham Abbey, Essex
Walthamstow Marshes in East London
WaterWorks Centre Nature Reserve in Leyton, East London
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - The London Legacy Development Corporation and Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
In addition to retaining Green Flag status, Lee Valley Regional Park’s Myddelton House Gardens in Enfield has also achieved the much coveted Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, in recognition of the Authority’s successful management of this historic venue.
Beryl Foster, Deputy Chief Executive at Lee Valley Regional Park Authority said: “Our open spaces have never been more important for the diverse communities that visit us and the award of a Green Flag is testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff and volunteers who ensure we maintain the highest of standards for visitors, while at the same time conserving and enhancing the biodiversity of the park. To receive one is a great achievement for any park but to be awarded nine - year after year – is really special.”
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected. We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”
The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
Lee Valley Regional Park’s green spaces are free to visit throughout the year, with thousands of acres to explore on foot, by bike or by river.
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Hi-res images are available to download from here:
Myddelton House Gardens – Green Flag and Green Heritage https://leevalleypark.canto.global/b/HSGCH
Waltham Abbey Gardens – Green Flag https://leevalleypark.canto.global/b/RUMR3
Rye House Gatehouse – Green Flag https://leevalleypark.canto.global/b/H2PI2
River Lee Country Park – Green Flag https://leevalleypark.canto.global/b/R6S10
Gunpowder Park – Green Flag https://leevalleypark.canto.global/b/H8UVJ
Walthamstow Marsh – Green Flag https://leevalleypark.canto.global/b/RD1EH
Tottenham Marshes – Green Flag https://leevalleypark.canto.global/b/HH45G
Waterworks Nature Reserve – Green Flag https://leevalleypark.canto.global/b/RJAK2
Bow Creek Ecology Park – Green Flag https://leevalleypark.canto.global/b/HNDB1
For more information, hi-res imagery or to request interviews, please contact:
Alison Moore, Senior Corporate Communications Officer
M: 07909 000316 E: amoore@leevalleypark.org.uk