Award for Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust
Wins Horticulture Week's Best Parks Partnership in Third Sector
Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust CEO Sue Morgan with Kelvin Shewry and Sarah Perry
The charitable trust that supports many parks and public open spaces across the boroughs of Wandsworth and Merton has received an award.
The Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust was the winner of Best Parks Partnership – Third Sector in the Horticulture Week Custodian Award . This is awarded to the project that best demonstrates a successful partnership between multiple public or third sector organisations which aims to champion access to green space services.
The Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust was originally set up as a limited company in 2012 and was granted charitable status the following year. The Wandle Valley Regional Park consists of over 40 green spaces which extend four boroughs.
Achievements include 32 green space projects, six river restorations which have improved habitat for wildlife, more than 60 tonnes of rubbish gathered during 20 clean ups, 1,192 events involving over 39,000 participants, securing agreements with significant landowners for a coordinated approach to dealing with invasive non-native plant species, and the River Wandle being the first London river to be granted Good Ecological Potential status.
The Trust has also received a grant from the HLF Resilient Heritage program and the GLA to assist with developing management structures and financial sustainability to help ensure the continuation of this inspiring work across the Wandle Valley for many years to come.
Wandsworth Council’s cabinet member for community services and open spaces, Steffi Sutters, said, “It’s also fantastic news that the Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust are getting the recognition they deserve. They have worked with multiple boroughs and many other partners to create a new regional park that hundreds of thousands of people can enjoy. It has put the Wandle once again back in the heart of the communities through which it flows.”
The Promontory, Battersea Park was shortlisted for the Best Parks Restoration/ Development Project award. The refurbished Promontory was opened to the public in February in a hitherto overlooked and unused area of the park.
Using a donation of £30,000 from The Friends of Battersea Park, combined with £70,000 from Wandsworth Council, this formerly closed off area some 50 metres east of Albert Bridge has been transformed into a landscaped garden, brought to life by designer and landscape architect David Keary of Keary Design Associates in partnership with Enable Parks team, part of Enable Leisure and Culture.
Joining a nationwide celebration of parks and open spaces, Wandsworth is celebrating Love Parks Week taking place from July 13 to July 22.
July 17, 2018