London Borough of Hounslow's parks service has been named as one of the best-performing and most improved for 2020-2021, it was announced yesterday.

Hounslow's parks service was voted as third-best performing, under Lewisham and Lambeth, in the Parks for London's fifth annual Good Parks for London report.

Among other boroughs such as Barking, Hammersmith & Fulham, Redbridge, and Hackney, Hounslow also received an accolade for most improved.

Supported by the Mayor of London, the report looks at how London boroughs are performing against ten Good Parks criteria - including sustainability, supporting nature, community involvement, strategic planning and more.

Parks for London is an independent charity working with landowners and managers to protect and improve London's green infrastructure.

This comes just weeks after the borough was awarded 21 Green Flag Awards for 2021 and was recognised at the London in Bloom awards.

Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Leisure for Hounslow, said: "It has been a tough year responding to the pandemic and yet we have been working hard and will continue to improve in the months to come.

"We know how extremely valuable Hounslow's parks are to our communities and we only achieved what we achieved because, Council and Lampton Greenspace360 staff, residents, and volunteers, dedicated themselves to work together as a real team.

"This accolade is also a fitting tribute to the great work carried out by our borough's friends of parks groups.

"Their commitment, pride and passion for our parks and green spaces has played a pivotal role in this success."

Working alongside partner GreenSpace360, the council runs environmental programmes and hosts green work-experience placements for residents.

New meadows, bug hotels, bee banks, orchards have been created, and the borough's communities are involved in its conservation tasks.

In the report, Hounslow is recognised as a top scorer for 'supporting nature', shining a light on the council's countryside team, which manages 24 countryside sites across the borough.

Work at the Pevensey Local Nature Reserve and Bedfont Lakes Country Park are also highlighted.

The borough is also mentioned in the 'strategic planning' category with a top score accolade in recognition for its development and action plan to 'address global challenges at a local level.'

Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Shirley Rodrigues said: "The Good Parks for London Report's focus on climate change couldn't be more timely.

"This summer's flash floods were a stark reminder that the dangers of climate change are moving closer to home and something London is likely to experience more frequently.

"London's parks will have a key role to play in helping us mitigate and adapt to our changing climate."