Forster Park wins prestigious Green Flag Award for trailblazing girls initiative

This groundbreaking initiative was recognised for its powerful and proactive approach to addressing the national issue of park inclusivity and safety, aiming to encourage more older girls to use parks. It demonstrates that park design works best when shaped by the very people it serves. The win brings the borough’s tally to an impressive 19 Green Flag Award-winning parks and six Green Flag Community Award-winning green spaces.

Addressing the exclusion crisis

Research consistently highlights a stark reality – park facilities are often designed for, and consequently dominated by, boys. National data indicates that a significant percentage of older girls feel unwelcome in public parks, a sentiment that was strongly echoed in Forster Park.

After local surveys revealed a concerning absence of older girls, a follow-up youth survey confirmed the findings – many girls reported a lack of suitable activities and nearly a third did not feel safe in the space.

This urgency was heightened by the tragic death of local teacher Sabina Nessa in a nearby park. In response, the team immediately created a dialogue around safety, planting a tree in her memory and developing a Community Orchard, connecting memorial with positive action.

The innovation: A youth-led design group

The pivotal moment for the initiative was a workshop held in July 2024, which led to the formation of the Girls’ Design Group. This informal group, comprised of girls aged 11–16 and supported by the ‘Make Space for Girls’ movement, created a safe and inclusive space for girls to reclaim their park.

Their voices are now central to decision-making, ensuring that every new park development meets their needs. This youth-led approach has already had a big impact:

• Physical redesign: The Girls’ Design Group fed directly into the design of a new older children’s play area, securing £25,000 in funding from the Council through the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL). Their input guaranteed thoughtful colour choices and layouts that encourage connection, belonging, and visibility.
• Programme investment: The group co-authored a successful funding bid, securing £20,000 for an 18-month programme of youth activities, which they are now helping to deliver as a key reference group.
• Safer, visible spaces: Working with local stakeholders, the team utilised the Safer Parks Green Flag guidance, leading to practical management changes like cutting back tall vegetation to improve visibility along paths.
• The success is evident: not only are more girls returning to the park, but their continued engagement (including designing a 'Here Come the Girls' logo and T-shirts) ensures the initiative remains relevant and effective.

Setting a national precedent

The Forster Park project has achieved local and borough-wide recognition, setting an inspiring example for inclusive design. Local elected representatives were swift to support the work, inviting the girls to visit the Council and present their findings.

Councillor Natasha Burgess, ward councillor for Catford South, praised the Friends of Forster Park for their leadership on the initiative:

"Your work on women and girls' safety and your proactive community engagement is amazing. The approach has become an exemplar right across the borough. Councillor colleagues have been inspired to ask about how their parks and community spaces might improve their engagement with, and the safety of, girls and young women. You are trailblazers and crucially, you are already delivering the outcomes you set out to achieve.”

The project has driven real change across the borough, inspiring other park user groups. The Council is also applying its findings to help shape new parks projects and improve parks management.

The Green Flag Award celebrates this project as a great example of equity, demonstrating that when girls are empowered to lead, they help create spaces that are safer, more fun and more welcoming for the entire community.