Tower Hamlets park celebrates Green Flag status » Environment » 24dash.com

Not only have all the borough’s award winning parks had their green flags renewed, but this year an additional park will be waving the prestigious flag, bringing the grand total up to five parks.

King Edward VII Memorial Park, Shadwell is the latest of the borough’s parks to join the country’s elite green spaces. The Green Flag Award is the national standard of excellence for parks and green spaces in England and Wales.

Trinity Square Gardens, Mile End Park, Weavers Fields and Island Gardens have all had their green flags renewed for the fourth year running.

Cllr Abdal Ullah, Lead Member for Cleaner, Safer, Greener, Tower Hamlets Council said: “It’s a great achievement to receive another green flag. We know that residents value their parks and open spaces and that’s why we work hard to make sure that they look great and are places that people want to go.”

One local resident, Rukia Ahmed, who lives near Weavers Fields said: “We’re very pleased to have such a lovely park on our door step. We enjoy and use the park. It’s a great place to relax, take a walk and experience nature, and the children really like it.”

Tower Hamlets parks join more than 500 parks countrywide in receiving green flags. Heritage awards, which recognise historic green spaces, were also awarded. Trinity Square Gardens, Tower Hamlets was one of just 31 parks to receive the prestigious award.

The parks across Tower Hamlets are diverse, catering for the varied needs of the borough’s residents. Trinity Square Gardens has a rich history and great views of the Tower of London. 

The gardens feature lawns, bedding and shrub beds (designed for interest every day of the year!), fine trees, memorials to the Merchant Seamen who died in both world wars and to those executed on the former Tower Hill scaffold. 

The gardens were created by special Act of Parliament and restored in 2003. Tower Hamlets Council manages the garden along with the Corporation of London and the War Graves Commission for the enjoyment of thousands of tourists and office workers, as well as visitors to the memorials and the annual services.  

By contrast, Mile End Park, which stretches from Limehouse to Victoria Park along the Regents Canal, is a park of the 21st century though work began in the wake of World War II. 

Building work to complete the park began in 1999, it now boasts a green bridge designed by award-winning architect Piers Gough. Among other attractions there is a state-of-the-art children’s play area. Electric go-karts, superb sport facilities and an arts pavilion.

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