Better Bankside wins two coveted Green Flag Awards

Today, Better Bankside is celebrating after receiving Green Flag Awards for its Bankside Urban Forest and Low Line Projects. The international quality mark for parks and green spaces is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that cares for the green space so that local workers, visitors and residents alike can enjoy it.

The Low Line, a partnership between the Arch Company, Blue Bermondsey, Team London Bridge, and Better Bankside, is transforming the mighty Victorian rail viaducts spanning Bankside, London Bridge and Bermondsey into an exciting, innovative old-but-new section of the city. Greening, biodiversity and climate change are all playing an integral part in to how the route is developed, which will remain sympathetic to its heritage while being forward-thinking in its approach to the environment.

Judges from Green Flag highlighted the excellent sustainable material use through the Low Line, the organic horticulture principles and the close links to the business community, commenting that it has “evolved to become a highly valued asset to the area”.

Launched in 2007, Bankside’s Urban Forest has seen medieval streets and mosaics of open spaces transformed into windows of colour, biodiversity and wellbeing. Since the project began, more than 250 trees have been planted, while green cover in the neighbourhood has increased by more than 1,000m². Overall, 10,000m² of public space has undergone improvements that have made the streets of Bankside better not only for its people but also the environment.

Green Flag judges were impressed by the sustainable planting and upcycling projects as well as the bespoke native planting scheme for one of Better Bankside’s members, The Africa Centre.

On winning the Green Flag status, Nicole Gordon, CEO of Better Bankside, said: “Finding opportunities to introduce new green spaces in urban environments is vital in future proofing our cities and we are very proud of having achieved the Green Flag award for Bankside Urban Forest and now the Low Line”.

Urban Gardener, Daniel Lea of Better Bankside, commented, “Through our 25 sites, we have improved the biodiversity and soil health from nectar rich plants to sustainable practices like propagating, plant division and mulching. Over the course of the year, Better Bankside has introduced over 500 plants that will tolerate the ever-changing climate, with diverse species that benefit both wildlife and humans, with medicinal plants including Artemesia, Inulas and Althaea officinalis (marshmallow).”

Commenting on the news that Bankside’s Urban Forest and Low Line accreditations, Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Better Bankside on achieving a Green Flag Award. We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”

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