Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is celebrating after receiving the coveted Green Flag Award for the eleventh time.

The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Lyn Garner, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s chief executive, said: “It’s an incredible achievement to reach the highest standards set by the Green Flag Award for 11 years in a row. I’m so proud that in this Olympic and Paralympic year we recognise not only the professionalism of our staff and horticultural experts but also the amazing work our Park Champion volunteers and local community groups who work together to create and maintain this wonderful park.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on achieving a Green Flag Award. The Park is a vital green space for communities in east London to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health. We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.  It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.