Southwark’s excellent parks have retained all 30 of its Green Flag Awards.
Councillor Catherine Rose, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Leisure, and Parks, said she was “delighted” by the news. She added: “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.”
Recipients of green flags include Burgess Park, Peckham Rye Park and Dulwich Park. Each of these parks is well used by residents of Peckham and their friends, other parts of Southwark and also visitors from further afield. They are a a valued asset and provide much need benefits to health providing opportunities to exercise as well as to relax and enjoy nature. All are readily accessible by public transport.
The Green Flag Award scheme recognises well-managed green spaces across the UK and, in the latest review, not a single park was stripped of the prestigious prize. Southwark has the third highest number of Green Flags out of 2,208 councils, pipped by Hillingdon with 68 and Edinburgh with 38. 2,216 parks across the UK, from Falkirk to Southampton, and Wrexham to Doncaster, fly the Green Flag. It is estimated that visits to parks in England save £2 billion by avoiding the costs of ill health every year.
