The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames can now boast multiple award-winning parks following the 2024 Green Flag Awards.

The awards were first established in 1996 to recognise and celebrate "the hard work of managers, staff, and volunteers" that help create noteworthy parks and green spaces.

This year, 22 local parks within Richmond Borough have received the award along with over 2,000 other locations across 15 countries:

• Cambridge Gardens, Twickenham  

Cambridge Gardens is Twickenham's answer to Richmond's Terrace and Buccleuch Gardens across the river. (Photo: Oliver Monk)

• Carlisle Park, Hampton   
• Crane Park, Twickenham   
• Garricks Lawn, Hampton    
• Ham Village Green, Ham

Ham Green's playground and outdoor gym makes it a community hub for those living in the area. (Photo: Oliver Monk)

• Hampton Common, Hampton

Hampton Common is an important green space for North Hampton residents living further away from Bushy Park. (Photo: Google Maps)

• Hatherop Park, Hampton  
• Heathfield Recreation Ground, Twickenham   
• Kew Green, Kew   

Cricket is a common sight on Kew Green, tucked away next to one of the world's leading botanical gardens. (Photo: Oliver Monk)

• Kneller Gardens, Twickenham   
• Murray Park, Twickenham   
• North Sheen Recreation Ground, Sheen   
• Palewell Common & Fields, Mortlake   
• Radnor Gardens, Twickenham   
• Richmond Green, Richmond 

Richmond Green is a popular spot for both residents and shoppers to relax and unwind. (Photo: Oliver Monk)

• Sheen Common, Sheen   
• Terrace and Buccleuch Gardens, Richmond

Terrace (top) and Buccleuch Gardens (bottom) offer a quiet escape from the weekend crowds along the towpath. (Photo: Oliver Monk)

• The King's Field, Bushy Park 
• Twickenham Green, Twickenham   

Many of the borough's public greens received a Green Flag Award. (Photo: Google Maps)

• Vine Road Recreation Ground, Barnes
• Westerly Ware, Kew

One of the judges' criteria is the importance of a park to the local community, such as the tennis courts offered at Westerly Ware in Kew. (Photo: Google Maps)

• York House Gardens, Twickenham

The riverfront garden is known for the sea nymph statues on its fountain. (Photo: Oliver Monk)

Bushy Park and Richmond Park have also won a Green Flag Award, bringing the total up to 24, but are managed by The Royal Parks instead of the council.

Other nearby recipients include three parks in Kingston Borough – Queen's Promenade, Canbury Gardens and Churchfields Recreation Ground in Chessington.

Isleworth's St John's Gardens, Redlees Park, and Thornbury Park also made the cut. 

The organisation says: "Any green space that is freely accessible to the public and has a site-specific management plan is eligible to apply for a Green Flag Award."

Its volunteer judges must evaluate the parks against 27 different criteria, such as how welcoming the space is, its cleanliness, biodiversity, heritage, marketing, community involvement, safety, management, and more, and once a park receives an award, it must requalify each year to keep its status.

An interactive map showing this year's Green Flag Award winners can be found on the organisation's website here.