Bridget Prentice MP has congratulated Manor House Gardens for receiving a Green Flag Award for the fifth year running.

 Manor House Gardens, one of Lewisham’s oldest parks and winner of a fifth consecutive Green Flag Award, celebrated its success at a fun-filled ceremony on Saturday 2 December.

The park, first in the borough to win the coveted award in 2002, has been completely refurbished in recent years, with a new children’s playground and café (Pistachios in the Park) enhancing the wonderful pond featuring extensive wildlife for all the family to enjoy.

• A Farmers’ Market is held on the first Saturday of every month, and the Green Flag event is being timed to coincide with the market. Together, the café and market provide the celebrations with a wide choice of food and refreshments from which to choose.

“We’re thrilled that we’ve retained the award,“ said local resident Jim Mallory,(pictured below with Bridget) Chair of the Gardens Users’ Group. “It’s testament to a lot of hard work by members of the group, Glendale’s and the Council, and not least the enjoyment that so many people who use the park experience.“

Glendale Services manages Manor House Gardens, along with the borough’s other parks. Lewisham Council has met its target of one additional Green Flag since its first award for Manor House Gardens in 2002. The park was first landscaped in the late 18th century as the gardens for the old Manor House, now serving the community as a much-loved library, which - if plans currently being consulted on get the go-ahead - will be completely refurbished and restored. The user group supports the Council’s plans to restore the link between the library and park by opening up the area where they interface.

• Information: More from Jim Mallory on 020 8852 9783; or email mallory21@aislibie.freeserve.co.uk

Notes

• The Green Flag award scheme, launched in 1996, is managed by the Civic Trust and is supported by the Department of Community and Local Government (DCLG) in its delivery of the cleaner, safer, greener communities programme to improve the quality of the built environment.
• The borough now has six Green Flags. In addition to Manor House Gardens, they are Chinbrook Meadows, Sydenham Wells Park, Telegraph Hill Park, Brookmill Park and Eckington Gardens. Together with the award at the Horniman Gardens, Lewisham is ranked equal highest award winner for London boroughs.