It means there are now 10 award-winning parks in the borough
A North London borough has been awarded Green Flag accreditations for two more of its parks, taking the total to 10. The local authority said it was “absolutely delighted” with the awards, which means it has more Green Flags than its three neighbouring boroughs combined.
The Green Flag Award is an international accreditation awarded to publicly accessible parks and open spaces that are welcoming and accessible, well-maintained and clean, and have creative and innovative site management.
Increasing the number of Green Flag parks was one of Harrow Council’s 30 flagship actions as part of its plan to “restore pride” in the borough. Alongside maintaining the eight Green Flag parks it already had, West Harrow Park and Pinner Village Gardens have now earned their status as “one of the best in the country”, the council said.
West Harrow Park, a much-loved historical space which recently marked its 100th birthday, has gained the accreditation following a spate of upgrades, including a new playground, improvements to its tennis courts, and an outdoor gym.
The council described Pinner Village Gardens as “a hidden gem”. The local authority thanked “the dedication of the local friends group” for the work they did towards its Green Flag status.
Harrow’s eight other Green Flag parks are Chandos Recreation Ground, Riverside Park, Kenton Recreation Ground, Pinner Memorial Park, Headstone Manor Park, Canons Park, Harrow Recreation Ground, and Roxeth Recreation Ground.
Portfolio Holder for Community and Culture, Cllr Janet Mote, said: “Everyone loves our parks, and I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve won two more Green Flag parks, taking us from eight to ten award-winning parks in Harrow.
“Pinner Village Gardens and West Harrow Park have both achieved Green Flag status for the very first time. A huge amount of work has gone into improving both parks and ensuring they get the national recognition they deserve.
“It’s a fantastic achievement, and I’d like to thank our dedicated staff, park user groups and volunteers who have played such an important role in securing award-winning status for 10 parks.”
Harrow Council said the judges were “impressed with the joint efforts of volunteers, park user groups, and the council’s park teams” for helping to keep the spaces at a high standard.
Council Leader, Cllr Paul Osborn, pointed out that the borough now has more Green Flag parks “than Brent, Barnet and Hillingdon combined”. He added: “We’re committed to our open spaces and putting residents first.”
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