The best and most beautiful green spaces in Hackney have been revealed as part of a national awards scheme.
The Green Flag Awards named 31 council-run parks in its annual list. Every one of the council spaces recognised this year also won the award last year.
Two new additions also make this year’s list – Stoke Newington Common and Charles Square.
Awards are given to parks that are welcoming and accessible, well maintained and clean, and creative and innovative in their management of the site.
London Fields is among the parks to receive the award (Image: Hackney Council)
The full list of council-run Green Flag award winners in Hackney is:
- Abney Park
- Albion Square
- Broadway Market Green
- Butterfield Green
- Charles Square
- Clapton Pond
- Clapton Square
- Clissold Park
- De Beauvoir Square
- Hackney Downs
- Hackney Marshes
- Haggerston Park
- Hoxton Square
- Joe White Gardens (formerly Aske Gardens)
- Kit Crawley Gardens (formerly Cassland Road Gardens)
- Kynaston Gardens
- London Fields
- Mabley Green
- Mark Street Gardens
- Millfields Park
- Rowley Gardens
- Shore Gardens
- Shoreditch Park
- Springfield Park
- St John at Hackney Churchyard Gardens
- St Thomas's Square Gardens
- Stoke Newington Common
- Stonebridge Gardens
- Well Street Common
- West Hackney Recreation Ground
- Woodberry Downs Park
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognises well-managed parks and green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
Mayor of Hackney, Caroline Woodley, said: “I’m delighted that Hackney has been awarded 31 Green Flags, the standard for the very best parks in the country.
“Two more Hackney parks have this year won the award - Stoke Newington Common, with a new play area developed in collaboration with its pro-active user group, and Charles Square, which has recently undergone a transformation into a beautiful tranquil space for residents to enjoy.
"They join Abney Park, which has held on to the Green Flag awarded last year, and where, with Abney Park Trust, we are holding a celebratory open event this weekend to mark completion of an ambitious restoration project.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our parks team and the work they do to make Hackney greener and healthier for everyone.”
Keep Britain Tidy chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton, said: “We know beyond doubt that our local environment contributes to the wellbeing of individuals and communities, with our parks and green spaces recognised as areas where people can come together and be active.
“Research shows that time spent in green spaces can positively affect mental and physical health, quality of life and a sense of wellbeing.
“We believe the standards expected in the Green Flag Award should be a minimum for every park, and it is our ambition that by 2030 we increase the number of sites achieving Green Flag Award status even further so that people across the world, wherever they live, can access and enjoy safe, high-quality green space.”
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