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The Green Flag Awards Scheme continues to be the most coveted prize for Parks and Open Spaces.  It is the national standard for parks and green spaces. In recognition of this years achievements a London Green Flag Regional Awards Ceremony was hosted at City Hall, with the support of the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, on the 21st of September.

This year 260 parks and green spaces in London received the prestigious Green Flag Award and Community Award. A total of 250 people attended the awards including representatives from 36 London Authorities and many local volunteers, all of whom have won awards for their local green spaces.

The event announced Green Flags national winners of the Peoples Choice Award and Special Awards for Innovation. The awards were presented by Baroness Hanham, Minister for Department for Local Communities and Government following a welcome address by the Mayors Director of Environment Kulveer Ranger.

The Green Flag schemes recognition of achievement is increasingly important in the light of increasing financial pressure on those managing green spaces which has come, just at the point when value of Britains parks and Green spaces is being recognised officially. A major new study by The UK National Ecosystems Assessment (NEA) shows that the health benefits of living with a view of green space are worth up to 300 per person per year.

Investment in parks and green spaces has the potential to impact on many aspects of the local environment.  The increase in the number of Green Flag Award and Community Award sites this year is testament to the value and significance local authorities and the community as a whole are placing on their green spaces.

The Regional Award ceremony was the only event being hosted for winners of the Green Flag this year in England and was organised by a committee chaired by Paul Bassi, the London Green Flag Judge Representative. The awards ceremony was supported by those involved in managing Londons parks and open spaces, hosted at City Hall and part funded by green space management companies Quadron and Glendale with contribution from City of London.

The standard, which is designed to improve the quality of the UKs parks and green spaces, recognises the value of parks and public gardens in London and the achievements of those working within them.  The standard encourages Londons volunteer and community groups engagement with city parks.

The Green Flag Community Awards were celebrated at the event with green-fingered volunteers across London recognised for their investment in their local green lungs of the capital.  Among the award winners this year were a variety of projects ranging from inner city garden farms to peace gardens in central London. The award ceremony being held in London highlights how important green spaces are to Londoners, providing a natural environment for wildlife as well as space to enjoy.  

The Special Awards for Innovation were presented at the ceremony to parks and green spaces that had shown that they have made changes which have brought outstanding benefits to both their site and their local community. This award recognises those who have gone the extra mile to be inspirational in their commitment to continuous improvement. Innovation is classed as something that is new to that particular site it must have been introduced in the last three years. Investment into the innovation by those managing parks and green spaces provides improved and safer environments for communities, supports the value of these sites and ensures a lasting landscape legacy for future generations.

Green Flag also announced the winner of the national Peoples Choice Award at the event. The Peoples Choice Award is an annual online vote that gives the public the power to decide which one of the 1,290 parks or green spaces flying the Green Flag Award or Community Award this year, should be named 2011 site of the year.

Paul Todd, Green Flag Scheme Manager said: "We are delighted that London parks have organised this celebration of their achievements.  2011 saw a record number of Green Flag and Community Award-winning sites in London and we hope to build on this success in 2012, in what will be an important year for the city, to show the world the quality of Londons green spaces."

Paul Bassi, Hammersmith & Fulham Council, London Green Flag Judges Regional Representative said:  "I am pleased to be part of the Green Flag Scheme.  As a green flag judge, one of over 120 volunteer judges in London alone, I have seen many miraculous transformations of parks that were once blighted with crime , antisocial behaviour and having no amenity value to becoming an integral part of local communities.  Most of these Award wining sites have managed to turn round their fortunes against a backdrop of poor investment and political will but for the impressive drive of community groups and the often forgotten green space managers and operatives.

"More should be done to raise awareness of Green Flag Scheme to the public of what is often taken for granted to maintain quality of green spaces for future generations."