12 Wandsworth parks win Green Flag Awards: a record year for our green spaces

The awards were announced today (Tuesday 15 July) and celebrate the borough’s commitment to providing high-quality, welcoming and sustainable parks for residents and visitors to enjoy.

This year’s total is up from seven in 2024, with four new parks receiving the accolade for the first time. The five new award-winning parks this year are King George’s Park, Bramford Gardens, Godley Gardens, Putney Park Lane and The Pleasance, and Fishponds Playing Fields. All 12 sites met the rigorous Green Flag criteria, which assess everything from cleanliness and community involvement to biodiversity and sustainable management.

Paul White, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Wandsworth’s parks are well-loved by our communities, and we are proud to have 12 of them now recognised at the highest national level. These Green Flags are a mark of quality, but more than that, they represent our long-term commitment to making our green spaces better, more inclusive and more sustainable.

“Whether it’s creating new habitats, restoring heritage features, installing modern playgrounds or supporting active communities, this is about putting people and nature at the heart of our parks.

“We are very lucky to have so many beautiful parks and we are particularly keen to ensure green spaces are a place where people would want to go to, whatever their way of enjoying those spaces, or seeking calm and well-being.”

What is a Green Flag park?

The Green Flag Award is the international benchmark for parks and green spaces. Run by Keep Britain Tidy, the award celebrates well-managed green areas that meet the highest environmental, community and maintenance standards.

Specifically, the criteria include:

1. A welcoming place: Parks must be inviting, clean, and safe for visitors.
2. Healthy, safe, and secure: Parks must provide a healthy and secure environment for visitors.
3. Well maintained and clean: Parks must be well maintained with appropriate facilities.
4. Environmental management: Parks must implement sound environmental management policies.
5. Biodiversity, landscape, and heritage: Parks must promote and support biodiversity, preserve landscapes, and protect heritage sites.
6. Community involvement: Parks must engage with the community and encourage their involvement.
7. Marketing: Parks must effectively promote their facilities and initiatives.
8. Management: Parks must have clear management plans in place to ensure their upkeep and improvement.

The 12 Green Flag-winning parks in Wandsworth for 2025 are:

• Bramford Gardens (new)
• Battersea Park
• Coronation Gardens (new)
• Fishponds Playing Fields (new)
• Fred Wells Gardens
• Garratt Park
• Godley Gardens (new)
• King George’s Park (new)
• Putney Park Lane and The Pleasance (new)
• Tooting Common
• Wandsworth Common
• Wandsworth Park

From heritage to play, parks are for everyone

Wandsworth’s success this year is a testament to our ongoing investment in green spaces across the borough. Recent highlights include:

• The playground in Wandsworth Park was renovated, prioritising modern, inclusive equipment for all ages, with more playgrounds due for upgrades as part of our Year of Play
• Restoration of the historic 1904 drinking fountain and unveiling of the Fanny Wilkinson statue in Coronation Gardens
• New wildflower meadow boards have been installed at Wandsworth Park, explaining the biodiversity work we do in the wildflower meadow and engaging children and families
• Our ‘On Your Street’ garden survey revealed the hidden richness of wildlife in residents’ gardens, with over 750 submissions now helping shape a new Biodiversity Action Plan
• Other biodiversity schemes, like No Mow May and using heavy horses at King George’s Park, under Rewild London
• Opening of Springfield Park, London’s biggest new park since the 2012 Olympics, part of the development of Springfield Village in Tooting
• A new six-year park maintenance contract with Krinkels emphasises sustainability, carbon-neutral machinery, recycling and HVO fuel

Find out more about your nearest park

Enable and Krinkels manage and maintain parks and green spaces on behalf of Wandsworth Council, and their support has been invaluable in achieving these flags.