Big thumbs up again for Lewisham’s ‘Green Standard’ parks and open spaces

Lewisham’s parks and green spaces have successfully retained all 23 Green Flags – the awards given to the very best green spaces around the world.

In addition, Beckenham Place Park has achieved the prestigious Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England.

This is a benchmark in addition to Green Flag status for recognising and considering heritage features of a park. It includes heritage buildings, landscapes and natural features, as well as history and stories surrounding the green space.

The judges’ feedback on the heritage accreditation at Beckenham Place Park included praise for “a very detailed and well-structured conservation management plan with very good conservation standards seen across the site for physical and natural heritage”.

The judges also noted excellent community engagement in the management of the space and the planting of the formal beds around the Mansion House and Stable Yard, which has ‘restored heritage and enhanced climate change resilience and biodiversity.’

They also noted: “The park has a very diverse mixture of plants and trees, all of which integrate into the site’s heritage and landscape characteristics. Key heritage trees, historic hedges and woodland areas are well presented and visible.”

Four Lewisham parks were rated in the very highest scoring band, demonstrating improvement from previous years across all eight Green Flag criteria: Chinbrook Meadows, Mayow Park, Sydenham Wells Park and Frendsbury Gardens.

The criteria for Green Flag awards include how welcoming and safe a green space is, maintenance, biodiversity, community involvement and management.

Lewisham council, in partnership with Glendale and many parks’ friends and community groups, manages 47 parks five churchyards and 15 nature reserves in the borough – each with its own unique character and environment.

Pictured top: Beckenham Place Park (Picture: Lewisham council)