Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18Housing associations Housing associations provide many people with affordable housing, but the green space between the homes is just as important. Presenting residents with a quality green space allows them to feel safe, provides them with a meeting place and encourages a community atmosphere. Benefits • Provide a quality green space on the doorstep of residents’ homes • Gain national recognition for providing great places to live • Attract residents to the area • Show value for money • Provide children with a safe area to play • Provide an area for communities to get together and support each other and reduce isolation • Reduce incidents of vandalism and other anti social behaviour • Reduce the number of empty properties by enhancing the appeal of an area CityWest Homes Lillington and Longmoore Gardens is an estate located to the south of Westminster, in Pimlico, and managed by CityWest Homes. It was felt that there should be no barrier to creativity and the fact that the site is a housing association site should be seen as a challenge to keep coming up with new ideas to use the place and keep it useful for its residents. The gardens were divided into themed areas to create interest and contrast, while providing a variety of habitats to meet the biodiversity commitment. The management has worked closely with residents over many years to ensure that they are meeting their needs. They created nearly 30 allotment spaces that are given out free of charge, but on a user agreement. There are bee hives that produce honey for sale and two spaces that have been created as children’s gardens – one with more formal activities and the other to get muddy and find bugs. As the estates are open to the public 24 hours a day, planting and lighting have been adapted to combat the risks of rough sleeping, drugs use and antisocial behaviour. An area that once provided a snug sleeping spot in the community garden was attractively bricked up, reclaiming it for the residents. They have created a space that is financially manageable and delivers a high-quality green space for everyone. It is an oasis in the heart of London. “It’s a fantastic achievement to win this Award. It’s recognition that our green spaces continue to be among the best in the UK and I am proud of the work the Green Spaces team has put in over the years to achieve this. We will continue to work to meet the many criteria specified by the Award, such as encouraging community participation and bio-diversity.” Alison Weller, CityWest Homes Left: Lisson Green, CityWest Homes, London Right: Bournville Village Green, Birmingham 8 THE GREEN FLAG AWARD