Thames Barrier Park in the Royal Docks wins a Green Flag Award, for a third successive year

Parks and green spaces have always been a place of serenity, freedom and relaxation. However, over the last few months, they have been of even greater importance as, during the pandemic, people have been seeking safe and enjoyable spaces to get out, exercise, and re-connect with nature. Thames Barrier Park is just one of those spaces, and so it is fantastic to hear that for a third successive year the park has been recognised and awarded the coveted Green Flag Award!

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces. It sets the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Thames Barrier Park is one of more than 2,000 sites across the country to collect the award for 2020.

“The Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, said: “It’s thrilling that Thames Barrier Park in Newham has once again proved that it meets Green Flag’s highest standards. It’s one of the most beautiful green spaces in London, so for it to be recognised in this way is both a great honour but also a real coup, as it’s the third year in a row in which the park has won the award. Through dedicated attention and care throughout the year, the ongoing prominence of the Thames Barrier Park in this exemplary national award scheme is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff team there. Our residents especially have benefitted from all the Thames Barrier Park offers, particularly during Covid-19 lockdown when access to good quality open space was so important for the health and wellbeing of our diverse communities. Now that we are in Tier 2 restrictions in London, access to the Thames Barrier Park will become vital.”