Hackney has secured its position as London’s leading borough for parks, according to the latest Green Flag Awards results.
The east London district has maintained its top ranking with an unprecedented 34 parks and green areas honoured with Green Flag Awards, surpassing all other local authorities in the capital.
The prestigious awards, managed by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, celebrate green spaces that are professionally maintained, open to the public, and rich in biodiversity.
Cllr Jacob Cable, Hackney’s cabinet member responsible for climate, clean air, energy, and transport, stated that all residents should have access to high-quality green spaces near their homes. He expressed immense pride that 34 of the borough’s parks have been acknowledged among the finest in the nation. This accomplishment reflects the dedication of Hackney’s parks workforce, along with the numerous parks user groups, volunteers, and partner organisations whose commitment transforms these spaces into sanctuaries for both wildlife and local people.
Hackney Council has held onto its status as the London borough with the greatest number of Green Flag-accredited parks, having increased from last year’s tally of 33.
Clapton Common achieved its inaugural Green Flag following recent enhancements, including a modernised children’s play area and wildlife restoration activities.
The Green Flag Awards draw attention to sustained investment in and attention to public parks, which proves especially significant in Hackney, where the borough ranks among England’s most densely populated areas and many households do not have private gardens.
The Green Flag initiative welcomes entries from any publicly accessible green space, with accolades distributed yearly and participants required to reapply annually. Alongside council-operated parks, several community-managed sites also obtained recognition.
The Tree Musketeers group secured a Green Flag Community Award for their stewardship of the Hackney Community Tree Nursery and Edible Forest Garden. Core Arts, situated in Homerton, likewise received a community accolade.
Hackney’s complete roster of Green Flag parks comprises:
Abney Park Cemetery
Albion Square
Broadway Market Green
Butterfield Green
Charles Square
Clapton Common
Clapton Pond
Clapton Square
Clissold Park
Daubeney Fields
De Beauvoir Square
Fairchild’s Garden
Hackney Downs
Hackney Marshes
Haggerston Park
Hoxton Square
Joe White Gardens
Kit Crowley Gardens
Kynaston Gardens
London Fields
Mabley Green
Mark Street Gardens
Millfields Park
Rowley Gardens
Shore Gardens
Shoreditch Park
Springfield Park
St John’s Churchyard
St Thomas’s Square Gardens
Stoke Newington Common
Stonebridge Gardens (Snake Park)
Well Street Common
West Hackney Recreation Ground
Woodberry Down Park
The Green Flag initiative additionally incorporates Green Heritage Site Accreditation, which evaluates locations based on their preservation of historic characteristics.