Better parks for all
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
30/07/2008
It may only be three months since new contractors were brought in to maintain the borough's parks and open spaces but visitors to Hammersmith and Fulham's green sites are already noticing the difference.
Quadron Services, one of the country’s most highly-respected grounds maintenance companies, have been working with the council since May and in that time have been busy mowing, cutting, chopping and hoeing.
Cllr Paul Bristow, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “Visitors to our parks and open spaces have already told us how beautiful they are looking this summer. We are proud to have Quadron on board and look forward to our parks receiving even more praise over the coming months and years.”
Ravenscourt Park in Hammersmith is just one green space that is reaping the benefits of the new contract. The scented garden has been comprehensively weeded and improvements are being made on a weekly basis. There is now also a mechanical sweeper based on-site, which cleans all the major pathways every day. A new toilet attendant can also be found during working hours and weekends.
Quadron have also doubled the manpower at Bishops Park, Fulham. One of these additional staff members is a permanent toilet cleaner. Shrub beds have been tidied and weeds have been removed.
Close working with H&F Homes has also seen improvements made at Kelmscott Gardens, Sullivan Court and Arlington House and standards have dramatically risen at Margravine Cemetery.
Cllr Bristow added: “Our ParkLife campaign has been running throughout the summer and has highlighted the improvements in the management of our parks. Working closely with Quadron we are going to ensure that members of the public can be proud of our parks and open spaces. We want as many people as possible to spend time in the great outdoors so now is the time to indulge in some ParkLife."
The new Quadron contract is also having some tangible benefits for the wider community. Working with Connextions, Quadron is hoping to recruit up to four local apprentices to work in the borough’s parks. The apprenticeships will provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for young people to enter a career in horticulture.
Quadron is currently in negotiations with Merton College to place a large number of staff through NVQ level 2 training in amenity horticulture.
Quadron has a proven track record in delivering improvements to parks, open spaces and housing areas throughout the country. They currently provide services to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, and Southwark Council.
The contract with Quadron runs for a period of seven years with an option to extend for another seven years subject to satisfactory performance.
