Welcome to the Parks and Open Spaces web site
Introduction
Bexley has over 100 parks and open spaces covering 638 hectares.
This makes it the tenth largest of London's 33 boroughs in
terms of parks and open spaces. These range from small pretty
gardens for sitting and relaxing to beautiful river and woodland
areas for long walks and rambling, and large parks with ponds
or lakes and many facilities such as boating, tennis and golf, children's playgrounds and
restaurants.
London Borough of Bexley has a long history of commitment to top quality
park and open space maintenance and management. In 2002/2003
London Borough of Bexley Beacon Council Status
for improving Urban Green Spaces. The regular success London
in Bloom Awards and the nationally prestigious Green
Flag Park Awards. We want to continue this commitment
and have produced a Parks Strategy
which sets clear publicly consulted objectives for our parks
and open spaces for years to come.
The main aims of the strategy are to:
- Improve the quality of parks;
- Increase and broaden the community use made of parks;
- Encourage community involvement and participation in planning and management;
- Understand and respond to the present day user requirements of parks;
- Understand and respond to issues of public safety and community concern that relate to parks;
- Increase significantly public awareness of the value of parks;
- Conserve and enhance the natural environment and ecological balance in parks; and
- Maximise support for parks development and maintenance through external funding opportunities and ensure that new
resources are directed to benefit users of the parks.
Biodiversity (the name used to describe all
living species and their habitats) also plays a large part in the way Bexley
manages its parks and open spaces. As part of Local Agenda 21, Bexley has produced a Biodiversity Action Plan. The plan details actions for protecting,
conserving and enhancing wildlife and habitats in Bexley through
parks management, public awareness and working with schools and wildlife conservation groups.
Three Local Nature Reserves were designated early in 2002,
at Lesnes Abbey Wood, Footscray Meadows and Danson Park. London Borough of Bexley has an excellent record for nature
conservation within the parks and open spaces. In addition
to the local nature reserves, many other areas are managed
for nature conservation. For more information, contact the
Nature Conservation Officer on 020 8294 6558.
 Trees are a unique component of the landscape which are
vulnerable to damage by vandalism, development, pest and diseases.
Many trees are long lived, offering enjoyment and benefits
to residents both now and in the future. To ensure their huge
contribution to the urban landscape continues it is essential
that their needs and requirements are understood and planned
for.
With this in mind Bexley has produced a Trees
and Woodland Strategy to develop a strategic approach
to tree management and new tree planting. The strategy contains
the Council's core values in respect of trees and woodlands;
these will drive the policies and action plans empowering
the Council and its residents to take an active role in the
management of the urban forest.
All parks and open spaces are regularly patrolled by experienced
Rangers who look after the main infrastructure and ensure that they
are a safe and welcoming place to visit.
For further information you can contact the Highways and Amenities Department
by email at parks&openspaces@bexley.gov.uk or
by telephone on 020 8303 7777.
Environmental Competitions
- Environmental Challenge
A competition for individuals, groups or schools who been working to improve the local environment or to raise awareness of environmental
and sustainable development issues in Bexley.
- Bexley in Bloom
About our competition that gives local people the chance to show off their gardening skills.
Other pages of interest
The following pages from the Council web site may also be of interest:
- Green Chain Walk
Back in 1977 four London Boroughs and the Greater London
Council got together to create 'The South East London Green
Chain'. Today there are nearly 300 Green Chain Open Spaces
which include some of the finest landscapes in South East
London. Find out more on this page.
- London Wildweb
Wildweb provides details over 140 of London's most important
wildlife sites searchable by interactive maps.
- Events
What's on around the borough over the next few months.
- Draft Open Space Strategy
The London Borough of Bexley is consulting local residents, community and voluntary organisations and other agencies on a Draft Open Space Strategy. The Strategy will provide a framework for the future planning and management of open space and sports and recreation facilities in the Borough. Comments are invited by 28 July 2008.
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