Southwark’s parks retain Green Flag Award status

25 July 2023

Southwark Council has successfully retained all 30 Green Flag Awards for its outstanding parks and open spaces. This prestigious status stands as a testament to the relentless efforts made by volunteers, community groups, park staff and contractors, Idverde, in maintaining well-managed and welcoming open spaces for park-goers.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Southwark has the third highest number of flags of all of the 2,208 councils that took part across England and the second most in London.

Councillor Catherine Rose, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Leisure, and Parks, said: “We are delighted to have retained all 30 Green Flag Awards for our parks and open spaces. Voted best Parks in London in 2022-23, our amazing parks enable active recreation, promote community action and provide solace for people of all ages and backgrounds and we have worked hard to maintain this. They are also key in supporting biodiversity and our climate emergency agenda.

“Given the high level of demand placed on our parks from both prolonged periods of hot weather and lack of access to private or shared gardens, retaining 30 Green Flags is a remarkable achievement.

“I also wish to offer my congratulations to all the Southwark organisations who have been awarded Community Awards this year.

“Our achievements across our 30 Green Flag parks and the success of other Green Flag sites would not have been possible without the hard work of our community of volunteers.

“I also wish to offer sincere thanks on behalf of all our residents to all our park staff and our contractors Idverde, who care for the green spaces that everyone can enjoy.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd MBE said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in achieving a Green Flag Award”.

A number of local organisations also received Green Flag Awards this year including: Bankside Open Spaces Trust, Better Bankside, Burgess Park Food Project, Surrey Docks Farm, Tate Modern + Bankside Open Spaces Trust, Conservation Volunteers at Dulwich Upper Wood, Conservation Volunteers at Lavender Pond and Walworth Garden.

A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available here.

Page last updated: 25 July 2023