How our parks are managed

We are responsible for the upkeep and development of over 60 parks and green spaces in the borough.

We also manage:

• four nature conservation areas
• one allotment site
• fountains and water features
• various monuments
• five churchyards
• historic listed buildings, parks and gardens
• street and park trees
• verges and roundabouts.

Who looks after Lambeth's parks?

We employ contractors, Veolia ES, to look after parks on our behalf. Veolia are responsible for:

• general maintenance – cutting the grass, and maintaining flower beds and bedding displays
• removing and installing football posts, and maintaining pitches
• removing litter, dog fouling and graffiti
• tree care.

Our parks and green spaces are managed and maintained around Lambeth's five town centre areas, with an Area Parks Officer for each area.

Area Parks Officers regularly inspect all of the parks and green spaces to ensure that contract standards are being met, and that faults are reported and scheduled for repair.

Our services

• We currently manage one allotment site at Lorn Road in Stockwell. You will need to register your name with us in order to be eligible for a site.
• We are responsible for the upkeep and development, including grass cutting, tree care and shrub pruning, of over 64 parks and green spaces, and we aim to maintain all sites to nationally recognised standards of cleanliness and horticultural quality.
• We look after 34 children's play areas and eight paddling pools.
• We maintain the borough's trees.

Our service standards

• We remove litter and empty bins, in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990: Code of Practice (Litter)
• Seasonal flower displays, herbaceous plants and bulbs, shrubs, climbers and hedges and rose beds are maintained weed-free at all times, using manual cultivation practices
• We carry out daily inspections of children's play areas, by 9.00 am to ensure that they are safe to open
• We carry out a thorough certified and documented safety inspection every week on each of the play areas
• We sweep and clean all paved areas, in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990
• All fenced parks (excluding Ruskin Park) are opened by 7.30am
• All fenced parks are closed within 15 minutes of sunset.

Protecting the environment

We are trying to make our parks sustainable, so that future generations can enjoy them.

We are reducing the use of chemicals in our parks using natural composting materials, and recycling green waste where possible.

Verges

We look after 64 verges, ensuring the grass is cut and they are clean and safe.

There are many verges in Lambeth, some of which are looked after by Transport for London (if on a Red Route) and others which are privately managed.