Awards success for Terrace Gardens (Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats)

Awards success for Terrace Gardens

December 28, 2009 5:08 PM

• TERRACE Gardens in Richmond has been recognised among the best parks and open spaces in the UK by BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries), the professional organisation for landscape contractors.

Work at the gardens, recently given a £1 million upgrade by Richmond Council has resulted in contractors Veolia, and the Council, winning awards in the organisation's annual ceremony. The Council-led project saw contractors Veolia win the soft landscaping category, in which the Council's landscape architect, Portia Baker, also won a personal award for the quality and design of the new planting which has been put in place there. The gardens were named among the finalists in the grounds maintenance category.

Cllr Geoff Acton, Richmond Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "These awards are usually won by large firms carrying out work for private clients, or by major public open spaces, so for Portia and our partners Veolia to win against such strong opposition shows the incredibly high standards which have been achieved in Terrace Gardens. This is not the first award the gardens has won, and I'm sure it won't be the last, the whole site has been improved 100 % and now stands out among the best open spaces in the capital. Residents' satisfaction with our parks and open spaces is incredibly high, and Terrace Gardens is one example of what can be achieved with real dedication and commitment."

The 'winners report' in the soft landscaping category, recognised how important the close working relationship between Veolia and the Council had been in making the refurbishment of the gardens a success. The report said: "A very local partnership has been developed between the [Council] and Veolia for this prestigious project. Great credit is due to all involved for providing a great example for other local parks and open spaces to follow."

Terrace Gardens was officially opened by HRH the Earl of Wessex in July, following completion of the works. During the opening, he met Council Leader Serge Lourie, Mayor Cllr Celia Hodges and Council and Veolia staff who have worked on the gardens refurbishment. The gardens were originally opened in 1887 by Princess Mary. The gardens are the jewel in the crown of the greenest borough in London and the restoration project has been the cornerstone of the Council's borough wide Parks Improvement Programme. The work has been completed to an exceptionally high standard and has brought the listed gardens into the 21st century with sustainability and bio-diversity at its core.In the recent Place Survey, the residents of Richmond upon Thames voted the borough one of the best places to live in the country and in the same survey our parks have achieved 93 % satisfaction rating - the highest in the country.

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