Lee Valley Ice Centre has been awarded for improving local biodiversity
The newly reconstructed Lee Valley Ice Centre has received a special ‘London In Bloom Gold Award’ for its efforts to increase biodiversity through “innovative” methods.
The Lea Bridge venue was honoured with a special award for Best Biodiversity and Environmental Innovation.
The London in Bloom Awards recognise environmental improvement efforts by parks and green-spaces across the capital.
Seven other sites across Lee Valley Regional Park, including two others in Waltham Forest: Walthamstow Marshes, and the WaterWorks Centre Nature Reserve also received a London in Bloom Gold Award.
Lee Valley Regional Park stretches 26 miles along the River Lee from Ware in Hertfordshire to East India Dock Basin on the River Thames.
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According to Lee Valley Regional Park, the Ice Centre aspires to become “the most sustainable ice venue in the UK by incorporating inventive architectural elements”. £1.5million has been put into landscaping, planting, and environmental enhancements at the Ice Centre.
These efforts include the utilisation of solar panels, gabion baskets equipped with bird and bat boxes, green roofs, insect accommodations and shelters for hedgehogs. 10,000 square meters of new native wildflower meadows and 181 native trees were also planted during the reconstruction of the venue.
Shaun Dawson, chief executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority said: “We are delighted to have retained these prestigious awards for our open spaces and to have received a new award recognising the landscaping and environmental innovations at our new Lee Valley Ice Centre.
“These awards are a fitting tribute to all the staff and volunteers at the Authority who work tirelessly to maintain these important open spaces.”
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