Parks
Tower Hamlets has over 120 parks and green spaces for everyone
to enjoy. These are treasured by the local community, whether they
are small pocket parks, local parks or parks of national repute.
The fabulous Mile End Park and the
majestic Victoria Park have both been
recognised as examples of great parks in the National Good Parks
Guide produced by GreenSpace and the Royal Horticultural
Society.
Your award winning parks include Weaver’s
Fields, Island Gardens, Millwall Park,
King Edward Memorial Park and Trinity Square Gardens, which along
with Mile End Park,have all gained the prestigious Green Flag
Award, a mark of excellence in the quality of provision for parks
and open spaces. The Bromley by Bow Centre, a community partner
organisation, has achieved the equally coveted Green Pennant Award
for ‘Bob’s Park’ in Poplar. Several other squares and green spaces
have won awards for design and excellence.
When visiting your parks, you can expect to find an array of
interesting features. Victoria Park for
example, contains historical lakes, the Burdett Coutts Memorial and
two of the original London Bridge stone alcoves. Mile End Park provides a more natural
environment, containing both an ecology and Art Pavilion as well as
a sports stadium and a go-cart track. This is just a snap shot of
what your parks can offer.
News and events
Consultation on park improvements
We are constantly striving to improve parks and open spaces
and to make sure they are places that can meet the needs of
everyone. Your views on how these places can be improved are
important and welcome.
View the plans for Victoria
Park.
Enjoy the parks
The borough’s parks host a variety of events and activities
throughout the year. The council’s Arts
& Events Team co-ordinates the programme, organising and
supporting funfairs, arts, music and dance events in the parks.
Mile End Park regularly hosts arts and
environmental exhibitions and events, while Victoria Park is a key venue for music and
cultural festivals. The outdoor environment adds something
special to these events and provides an opportunity for the whole
community to get together for some fun and entertainment.
The parks also provide venues for a number of fund raising
events for charities such as sponsored walks, fun runs and
cycling.
Play areas and staffed play facilities are very popular with
children, young people, parents and carers. The council has been
improving these facilities to make them more accessible and
attractive for everyone.
Our community park rangers regularly
hold outdoor community events including guided walks, arts and
crafts, bulb planting, face painting, meadow seed sowing and other
activities.
If you would like more information on facilities and events or
want to find out about the plans for further improvements please do
not hesitate contact us.
Back to the
top
Learn with parks
Our parks offer opportunities to learn about the natural
environment. Our parks team and community partners run programmes
and events where you can learn about nature and gain skills in
horticulture.
School groups also use parks and open spaces to support school
children’s educational needs including participation in sports,
discovering local history and undertaking environmental study.
Get healthy with parks
You don’t have to run around your park to improve your health,
though you are welcome to do so! Parks are great places to unwind;
just sitting and relaxing in a pleasant green environment and
spending a moment in touch with nature can help to reduce stress
levels and improve your feeling of well-being.
Tower Hamlets parks also offer a great variety of opportunities
for a more active lifestyle. The sports and play facilities
available can be found under each park listed in this guide.
Discover the great outdoors on your doorstep! The council has
eight published ‘Healthy Walking Routes’ which encompass the
borough’s parks, gardens and green spaces. If you are interested in
improving your health and fitness but don’t know how to get
started, our Healthy Lifestyles team can
offer advice and information on a range of activities and give you
information on our Healthy Walking routes.
Back to the
top
Parks for people and wildlife
We are aiming to improve the wildlife value and habitats within
parks. Creating areas for nature not only encourages wildlife, it
provides ‘spaces for reflection’ – quiet areas, screened by trees
and shrubberies with wild flowers where people can enjoy the
natural surroundings.
At present there are two local nature reserves, Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park and the Mudchute Park and Farm. These nature reserves
are examples of excellence in nature conservation and provide
spaces for local volunteers to be trained and gain new skills.
Getting involved with conservation work, such as creating new
wildlife habitats, can be great fun and has many physical and
psychological health benefits. We are creating new pockets of
natural landscape ranging from simple things like allowing the
grass to grow in appropriate areas to create meadows, through to
establishing new woodlands and woodland walks.
View our Local
Biodiversity Action Plan.
Parks with good biodiversity value:
Back to the
top
Be part of the parks
You can be involved in improvements to the borough’s parks and
open spaces, helping to make them better places for the
community. Wherever possible we will consult and engage with local
people in future proposals.
As well as letting us know your views, you may wish to join one
of the many community organisations that are working with the
council to provide better parks and services. The council continues
to develop strong partnerships with a wide range of community
groups and organisations including city farms, charities,
environmental groups and Parks Friends Groups. There are
opportunities to get ‘hands on’ experience of planting and looking
after plants, as well as maintaining and improving spaces.
The Local Area Partnerships (LAPs) hold regular public meetings
and provide opportunities to discuss park issues. For details on
meetings in your area please contact your LAP Co-ordinator.
Mile End Park is on Facebook. Become a friend, follow the
link: www.facebook.com/mileendpark
Downloadable information for parks in your area
Back to the
top.
Contact us:
Parks and Opens Spaces
Mulberry Place (AH)
PO Box 55739
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 1BY
Office opening hours are: 9am to 5m on Monday to Friday
Tel: 020 7364 6673
Fax: 020 7364 3286
Email: parks@towerhamlets.gov.uk