On 2nd December 2010 the Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park attended the annual London Tree and Woodland Awards ceremony held in London’s Living Room at City Hall. The Friends were there as the winners of ‘the most innovative project demonstrating significant environmental benefits (biodiversity award)’. This was one of several categories in the London Tree and Woodland Awards 2010. The awards, run by the Forestry Commission with support from the Mator of London, aim to celebrate and recognise committed individuals and groups, who work to improve the value of trees and woodlands in London.
The award was due to the hard work of The Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, who are a charity that are responsible for the daily care and management of one of London’s most urban woodlands – Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park and Ackroyd Drive Green Link.
The Friends manage the Park across their three broad themes of wildlife, people and education, while preserving the historic content. The group works entirely with volunteer input which involves over 3000 volunteers a year engaged on practical nature conservation projects.
There is an extensive events programme of about 130 public walks and volunteering activities, which are offered, free of charge and open to all. Walk themes include, butterflies, food for free, bats, moths and wildflowers, to name but a few. See the Friends’ website for more details.
Kenneth Greenway, Cemetery Park Liaison Officer, excitedly said:
” I am so pleased that the Friends and the work of their many volunteers improving the Cemetery Park are being recognised. We all work hard to make the Cemetery Park a showcase for managing urban green space for wildlife, people and education. Thank you to all the volunteers – without you we wouldn’t have been able to apply.”
