Residents and visitors to Hertsmere can take even greater pride in their local green spaces, as eight of the borough’s parks and open spaces have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award – the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
We're celebrating as parks in Bushey, Borehamwood, and Potters Bar have once again been recognised for their exceptional standards, maintenance and community involvement. Green Flag accreditation - the international quality mark for parks and green spaces - is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green spaces, for visitors and residents to enjoy.
Councillor Chris Myers, Portfolio Holder for Street Scene, Parks, Leisure and Culture, said: “I am immensely proud that so many of our parks have been recognised with Green Flag Awards this year. Our parks play a crucial role in the health and wellbeing of our residents – offering peaceful places to unwind, space to exercise, enjoy nature, or spend quality time with loved ones. We're committed to ensuring these beautiful much-loved natural assets remain welcoming, safe and accessible for all.
“These awards highlight the hard work and dedication of our parks team, our grounds maintenance contractor John O'Conner, our fantastic friends groups and InspireAll, which manages our parks events. Together they create green spaces we can all enjoy.”
The park with the longest running award history is King George Recreation Ground in Bushey, which has held the prestigious accolade for an impressive 27 years.
Not far behind is Oakmere Park in Potters Bar which has received the annual award 23 times, Aberford Park in Borehamwood has held a Green Flag for 18 years and Parkfield in Potters Bar has been awarded it 16 times.
Bushey Rose Garden has received the award for the 15th year, Mary Forsdyke Garden and Warren Lake, located in the heart of Bushey Heath, has won the prestigious award for the eighth time and Meadow Park in Borehamwood for the third year.
Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in Hertsmere who have worked tirelessly to ensure that eight of their parks achieves the high standards required for the Green Flag Award. Quality parks and green spaces make the country a heathier place to live and work in, and a stronger place in which to invest.
Bushey Rose Garden has also again achieved the much-coveted Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, for the management and promotion of its historic features.
Elsewhere in Bushey, Fishers Field Nature Reserve has achieved a full Green Flag Award for the first time, after previously being awarded the flag for the Community Award for the previous 16 years, in recognition of work carried out by local volunteers who manage the site in partnership with the council.
Cllr Myers added: “The contribution of our volunteer groups cannot be overstated. From maintaining flower beds to organising community events, they bring heart and soul to our parks. I extend heartfelt thanks to the Friends of King George, Borehamwood Four Parks Friends Group, Friends of Bushey Rose Garden, Friends of Fishers Field, and the Warren Estate Residents Association for their continued support and stewardship.”
“Hertsmere provides vital green spaces for communities to enjoy nature, and during the ongoing cost of living crisis it is a free and safe space for families to socialise. It also provides important opportunities for local people and visitors to reap the physical and mental health benefits of green space.”
Hertsmere's parks are some of the 2,250 in the UK to achieve the award, which is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
To find out more about our parks please visit our website www.hertsmere.gov.uk/parks or the ParkHerts website www.parksherts.co.uk.
Hear from our portfolio holder on our YouTube channel.
