Ashtead Common has been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award, recognising it as one of the very best managed open spaces in the world.
The award identifies and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the UK and around the world
The site was assessed by an independent panel of judges on several criteria, including accessibility and signage, safety, cleanliness, community engagement, and how the management of the site is helping to combat the effects of climate change.
The 200 hectare ancient wooded common is home to over 1,000 ancient oak pollards and is managed by the Corporation as a registered charity.
The news comes as the site has also been given Green Heritage Award status, in recognition of its high standard of conservation.
It has been a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1955 due to its diversity of habitats and rich variety of wildlife, including breeding birds and rare invertebrates, and became a National Nature Reserve in 1995.
Chairman of the City Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee, Ben Murphy, said:
“Every year, the judges’ standards continue to rise. These awards demonstrate just how effective our management plans are in protecting and preserving open spaces like Ashtead Common for future generations to enjoy.
“It also shows how the Corporation’s investment is having a real impact on local communities in and around our capital city.
“I would like to thank both our hard-working staff and passionate team of volunteers, who are the real winners of this award.”
The Corporation manages a network of 11,000 acres of internationally important open space across London and southeast England – including Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, and West Ham Park – investing over £38m a year.
Many of these sites operate as charitable trusts and are run at little or no cost to the communities they serve.
They include a wide variety of critically important wildlife habitats, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Special Areas of Conservation, and National Nature Reserves, and are protected under legislation.
A recent report revealed that the network of internationally important open spaces managed by the City Corporation are worth £282.6 million each year in benefits to society, and £8.1 billion over 50 years.
In total, they attract over 47 million visitors every year – more than three times the number who go to Premier League football matches every season, and almost eight times the number of annual visitors to the Grand Canyon.
ENDS
Notes to editors
The Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK – .
The Green Flag Award® scheme is run by the environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy and sets the benchmark for the management of outdoor spaces across the UK and around the world – www.keepbritaintidy.org/green-flag-award.
Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, is given in recognition of achieving the required standard in the management and interpretation of a site with local or national historic importance.
To receive Green Heritage Site Accreditation sites must also achieve Green Flag Award – www.historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/parks-gardens-and-landscapes/green-flag.
Full list of Corporation Green Flag Award Winners:
- Ashtead Common
- Burnham Beeches National Nature Reserve
- Bunhill Fields
- Cemetery and Crematorium
- Coulsdon Common
- Epping Forest
- Farthing Downs & New Hill
- Hampstead Heath
- Highgate Wood
- Kenley Common
- Queen’s Park
- Riddlesdown
- Spring Park
- West Ham Park
- West Wickham Common
Full list of Corporation Green Heritage Site Accreditations:
- Ashtead Common
- Burnham Beeches National Nature Reserve
- Bunhill Fields
- Cemetery and Crematorium
- Coulsdon Common
- Epping Forest
- Farthing Downs & New Hill
- Hampstead Heath
- Highgate Wood
- Kenley Common
- Queen’s Park
- Riddlesdown
- West Wickham Common
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