The wildlife, flora and fauna of three west London nature reserves have been recognised among the best of British green spaces.
Run by the London Wildlife Trust, the much-loved Gunnersbury Triangle in Chiswick - which was saved from development by local campaigners - has been acknowledged along with Crane Park Island, in Twickenham; and Yeading Brook Meadows, in Hillingdon; have received a prestigious Green Flag Award.
A record-breaking 1,582 parks and green spaces have received the award, presented by Keep Britain Tidy, as Love Parks Week kicks off from Friday (July 24) to Sunday August 2.
International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme.
"All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”
Set to open a new visitor centre in 2018, Gunnersbury Triangle, located opposite Chiswick Park tube station, will be celebrating its 30th anniversary together with a free open day on August 2.
Crane Park Island, which has received a Green Flag Award five years in a row, will be hosting free guided walks as part of Love Parks Week.
Summertime in the unspoilt Yeading Brook Meadows, which has received its second green award, is the perfect opportunity to see many species of butterflies, and high above, skylarks hover and sing.
These reserves are a haven for wildlife and are used by primary school children who receive special on-site lessons learning about the many species that live in London and is visited by thousands of people every year.
The London Wildlife Trust also thanked the group of volunteers at each site for their hard work and support to ensure the reserves award-winning statuses.
Gordon Scorer, chief executive of London Wildlife Trust, added: “This Green Flag Award reflects the Trust’s strong commitment to working with local communities and to protecting the many wildlife species that live in London.
"We already have over 40 nature reserves across London and we are aiming to add an extra 150 hectares of new reserves by 2020, providing free access to nature and securing a better home for many of the 13,000 species that live in London.”
