New parks contract boosts sustainability and local jobs 

A new six-year contract to maintain our award-winning parks and open spaces came into effect in February, promising significant benefits for both residents and the environment. 

It prioritises high-quality maintenance while driving forward our ambitious sustainability goals and supporting local employment. 

The contractor, Krinkels (formerly operating in the borough as Continental Landscapes Ltd), has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality from the first year of the contract, propelling us toward our aims to become a carbon-neutral Council by 2030 and Net Zero Borough by 2043. In addition to a number of electric vehicles, Krinkels will also introduce Hydrotreated-Vegetable-Oil (HVO) to its fleet, a stable, renewable, sustainable and high-quality diesel alternative, capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%.  

Councillor Julia Neden-Watts, Chair of the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee, said: “We want to ensure our borough remains one of the greenest and most sustainable in London. Awarding contracts like this allows us to make positive progress toward this vision and ensure our partners and service providers align with our commitments.   

“This not only ensures that our much-loved parks and open spaces continue to be beautifully maintained but also supports us in taking tangible steps toward reducing our carbon footprint, like introducing a more sustainable fleet, while also prioritising fair wages and local employment.”  

In addition to environmental commitments, Krinkels has pledged to pay the London Living Wage, ensuring fair pay for all staff involved in maintaining our green spaces. This commitment aligns with our dedication to fair employment practices and supporting a thriving local workforce.   

Read more about the range of improvements we made to our parks and open spaces in 2024, based on resident feedback, as well as our 22 prestigious Green Flag Awards. 

Find out more about our ambitions to become a carbon neutral Council by 2030 and Net Zero Borough by 2043, set out in our new Climate and Nature Strategy (2025-30).