Brent Council has been awarded Green Flag accreditations for two additional parks, bringing the total number of accredited green spaces in the borough to four. The local authority described the achievement as “extremely well deserved,” with one of the newly recognised parks, Mapesbury Dell, hailed as “Northwest London's best kept secret.”
Green Flag Award criteria
The Green Flag Award is an international standard for publicly accessible parks and open spaces. It recognises sites that are welcoming, accessible, well-maintained, clean, and managed with creativity and innovation. The scheme is operated by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under contract from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
According to Brent Council, the latest awards double the number of green spaces in the borough that have earned this prestigious distinction. Alongside maintaining its two existing Green Flag parks—King Edward VII Park and Bramshill Open Space—Preston Park and Mapesbury Dell have now been recognised for the first time.
Preston Park
Preston Park, spanning approximately 7.45 hectares, is a green space located in the north of the borough, surrounded by residential housing. It features multiple sports pitches and courts, including a bowling green, cricket square, outdoor gym, and tennis courts, as well as a children's play area and a pavilion.
Mapesbury Dell
Mapesbury Dell in Cricklewood is described by the council as a “truly magical garden hidden behind a row of residential houses.” Originally farmland, the area was developed into suburban housing around the mid-1870s until 1905, forming what is now the Mapesbury Estate. Brent purchased the site in 1979. Today, it includes a children's play area, a pond, green lawns, picnic tables, and stunning gardens. The council noted: “Once you have discovered it, you'll keep coming back. It is simply a wonderful place to come with the kids or just sit, stroll, listen to the birds and enjoy some peace.”
Maintenance and community involvement
Brent’s parks and green spaces are maintained by the council’s grounds maintenance contractor, Krinkels UK, in collaboration with the council’s Parks service, ‘Friends of’ groups, and organisations such as the Mapesbury Dell Trust. The two previously accredited Green Flag parks, King Edward VII Park and Bramshill Open Space, have achieved the award for the second consecutive year.
Brent's wider green network
Brent is home to 116 parks, open spaces, and sports grounds, ranging from local ‘pocket parks’ to the 112-hectare Fryent Country Park and the Welsh Harp Open Space, a 170-hectare nature reserve designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Official reactions
Cabinet Member for Cleaner Streets, Transport and Public Realm, Cllr Promise Knight, said: “These awards are an extremely well-deserved recognition of the hard work the Mapesbury Dell Trust, ‘Friends of’ groups, Krinkels UK and the Parks team puts into maintaining and improving parks and green spaces across Brent, and I’m pleased that we have achieved twice as many awards as last year as we come into the summer months. We remain committed to opening up green spaces for everyone in Brent and enjoying the benefits that come with spending time with friends and family outdoors.”
Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, Paul Todd MBE, added: “Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy. Yet for millions of people, particularly in the most deprived areas, local parks simply don’t feel safe or welcoming. With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it’s a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways to improve people’s quality of life. Congratulations to everyone involved.”
