Hillingdon now boasts the highest number of Green Flag awarded parks and green spaces in the world with a staggering 42 scooping the prestigious accolade.
During a ceremony at the new Polish War Memorial Garden on Saturday (September 3), Hillingdon Council had plenty to celebrate as the park was given its own Green Flag.
The park in South Ruislip was opened last Septembe r by the leader of the council Ray Puddifoot and the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in London, His Excellency Witold Sobkow.
Hillingdon Council's cabinet member for finance, property and business services, Councillor Jonathan Bianco , said: “The Green Flag awards are the highest accolade for parks and green spaces and it's a phenomenal achievement for the council to gain eight new flags in one year and have more than 40 in total.
“We'd really like to thank our council officers and community and volunteer groups for all their hard work and dedication in making this happen.”
The borough has seen the number of parks with Green Flag status jump from 34 last year to 42 now.
Mayor of Hillingdon Cllr John Hensley laid a wreath during the ceremony and was joined by Cllr Pudditfoot and representatives from the Polish Airforce.
Hillingdon already boasted more Green Flags than any other local authority in the UK, but now the awards have opened up to other countries it is now top of the international list.
The Green Flag Awards were first launched in 1996 and there are now winners in the Republic of Ireland, Germany, The Netherlands, Finland, Australia, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates.
The war memorial was once wasteland transformed by the council to honour Polish armed forces who lost their lives at war.
Other newly awarded parks in the borough are Northwood Recreation Ground, Philpots Farm, Hogs Back, Pinn Meadow, Pinkwell Park, West Drayton Cemetary and Park Road Green.
