• Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park voted one of the most popular in the country in Keep Britain Tidy People’s Choice vote

• Park has been a lifeline to local people during lockdown

• Parkland has remained open throughout the crisis and venues now re-opened after second lockdown 

• Download images we.tl/t-ldSwnt7JEG

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has been voted as one of the most popular parks in the country in a nation-wide poll organised by the Keep Britain Tidy Group.

More than 60,000 people took part in the People’s Choice  vote during November to find the nation’s most popular parks and green spaces from the 2,061 awarded Green Flag status this year. The Green Flag Award scheme is the international quality standard for parks and green spaces.

The People’s Choice 10 most popular parks and green space are:

• Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London

• Valentines Park, Ilford

• Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets

• Cassiobury Park, Watford

• Hollycroft Park, Hinckley

• Margam Park, Port Talbot

• Strathaven Park, South Lanarkshire

• Telford Town Park, Telford

• University of Essex Wivenhoe Park, Colchester

• Warley Woods, Smethwick

The People’s Choice vote confirms the findings of a survey conducted by Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park among Londoners in June 2020 which found that 73 per cent of local respondents said the Park is at the heart of their community and an important asset for London during lockdown.

Mark Camley, Park Operations director for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, said he was proud that the Park has gained a place in the heart of local communities and that the work of staff to keep the parkland open and safe has been recognised.

“We often take parks and open spaces for granted but the People’s Choice vote and our own polls show just how important they are to local people. We must make sure that we build on this and make the connection with local communities even stronger in the future.”

Commenting on the result, International Green Flag Award manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate our ten worthy winners and thank all the thousands of parks staff and volunteers across the country who have gone the extra mile this year to ensure our country’s parks and green spaces remain such fantastic places to escape to and enjoy.”

“We know how important quality parks are to people of all ages in every corner of the UK  and so, for these parks, this public recognition of just how much they are loved and valued is a real achievement.”