Beckenham Place Park receives Green Heritage Accreditation

Beckenham Place Park, on the borders of Bromley and Lewisham, offers 96 hectares of land along with landscaped gardens and Grade II listed buildings.

But recently the park was awarded a prestigious Green Heritage Site Accreditation by Historic England.

The accreditation recognises heritage features that a park may have, from heritage buildings to landscapes and natural features, along with the history and features that surround the accredited park.

Recently Beckenham Place Park was awarded a prestigious Green Heritage Site Accreditation by Historic England. (Image: Lewisham Council)

Beckenham Place Park first opened at 1929 and is the largest park in the borough, with woodland walks as well as a lake.

Judges commended the park based on its “detailed and well-structured conservation management” and “excellent community engagement”, along with its mixture of diverse trees and plants.

Judges also noted the planting of formal beds around the Mansion House and Stable Yard, which has “restored heritage” and enhanced the park’s biodiversity.

The landscape of the park. with its heritage trees, historic hedges and woodland, was also an additional factor towards the park earning the prestigious accreditation.

Judges commended the park based on its “detailed and well-structured conservation management” and “excellent community engagement”. (Image: Lewisham Council)

Cllr Louise Krupski, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Gaining an additional Green Heritage Site Accreditation is fantastic news for Beckenham Place Park and for Lewisham.

“Many thanks to all our Friends’ groups in the borough, our partners, Glendale and our Council parks’ team.

“As an inner-city borough, we are very proud of our award-winning parks, green spaces and nature reserves that bring so many health and wellbeing benefits to our residents.”

Alongside this most recent award, Lewisham Council also celebrated retaining its existing 23 Green Flag awards for other parks in the borough, including Blackheath and Ladywell Fields.

Four Lewisham parks were rated in the very highest scoring band, demonstrating improvement from previous years across all 8 Green Flag criteria, including Chinbrook Meadows, Mayow Park, Sydenham Wells Park and Frendsbury Gardens.

Lewisham Council also celebrated retaining its existing 23 Green Flag awards for other parks in the borough. (Image: Lewisham Council)

Parks are awarded Green Flag status based on safety and welcoming environments, maintenance, biodiversity, community involvement and management as some of the key factors.

Paul Todd MBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in Lewisham for achieving their Green Flag Awards.

“Parks and green spaces are a vital green space for communities in Lewisham to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.

“We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that the high standards of the Green Flag Awards are maintained, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.

“It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”