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• Green helps to regenerate London borough

• Date:

  16th July 2008

• Contact:

  Sarah Egerton

• Organisation:

  The Civic Trust

Bellingham Green, the setting for this year's Green Flag Award announcement on 17th July, is a wonderful green space situated at the heart of Bellingham, a 1920s social housing estate. With its strong tight-knit community Bellingham has developed its own unique identity, despite it being in the highest 10% of wards in multiple deprivation in England (2000).

Since its refurbishment, in 2003, the park has become a focal point for the community offering a space for children to play and parents to meet and relax.

London Borough of Lewisham, in partnership with the Local Sure Start Program, secured substantial funding to transform the former run-down space and today Bellingham Green has something for everyone.  For such a small space the park offers a wide range of facilities including a sensory garden and quiet area, picnic areas for families, conservation areas, a dog walking area, play areas for young children, teenage chill-out zone with managed graffiti wall, and a Multi Use Games Area which offers many summer sports events including football and basketball carried out by professional clubs.  An annual events programme also offers a range of activities including a Summer Festival, City Farm, Green Gym and Christmas carol service.

The Sure Start building provides a central hub to the park and is one of its greatest assets.  Sure Start, now known as the Children Centre, is part of the Childcare & Play Service, and employ key staff who liaise directly with the parks contractors Glendale and the local community.

Today the Bellingham estate is managed by the new Phoenix Community Housing Association. Phoenix is owned by the community and with the dedicated staff the Green will continue to be the most important green space asset within the ward.

Adrian Wickham, of Glendale Managed Services, which maintains the site on behalf of the council said: “The Green Flag Award has been warmly welcomed by all residents on the estate and epitomises the development of the area, encouraging community events through excellent community involvement.

“Managed and driven by all stakeholders, Bellingham Green is a great example of what the Award can bring and shows that your local green space does not have to be a large municipal park to be awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award.”