Community park ranger service

• Who we are
• What we do
• Events
• The community park ranger offices
• How you can help the community park rangers

Who we are

The community park ranger service has been created out of the old park service. We have made these changes to reflect a new community focus and our aim to provide a friendly face for the park by working for and with the local community.

The aim of the community park ranger service is to work with the local community and to assist them in the promotion of responsible usage and ownership of parks and open spaces within the borough.

The service is split into two geographical areas, north and south, to ensure that we provide an efficient and responsive service at a local level. The northern team has two bases, one in Bethnal Green Gardens and one in Victoria Park. The southern team's main base is in Poplar Recreation Ground.

The teams work seven days a week till dusk in the summer and winter. The community park rangers wear a distinctive blue uniform, which distinguishes them from other staff working in parks.

What we do

Our work includes:

• patrolling playgrounds, open spaces, cemeteries and nature reserves and inspecting the parks and facilities whilst they are on site
• patrol the parks and open spaces assisting and informing park users
• working to resolve any conflict issues, for example vandalism, and discouraging and reporting any form of antisocial behaviour, whether it affects other users, wildlife or the facilities themselves
• carrying out maintenance projects in parks
• encouraging appropriate behaviour, mutual co-operation and consideration from all groups using public spaces and, if necessary, enforce the relevant regulations
• providing a reassuring presence in our parks to encourage a sense of security and to provide helpful information.

Events

Community park rangers also organise and assist in a wide range of community events. The annual events and activities programme for the parks includes something for everyone, from arts and crafts to sports events.

Community park ranger offices

The two main offices in the borough are at:

Victoria Park
Telephone: 020 8985 1957

Poplar Recreation Ground
Telephone: 020 7510 2950

There are other ranger stations around the borough. These stations are not always staffed, so please call in again if there is no one around.

• Victoria Park in Bow
• Bethnal Green Gardens in Bethnal Green
• King Edward Memorial Park in Wapping

The Community park rangers aim to provide up-to-date information and help to all visitors. The centres will be the places to visit to find out about the history and ecology of our parks, current events and local activities.

How you can help the Community park rangers

You can help us by:

• giving us ideas and views on the parks and how they are used
• providing feedback on our events, parks and facilities
• suggesting practical ways that we can improve or develop parks
• reporting vandalism or damage
• using our facilities responsibly
• if you are a dog owner, by keeping your dog under control in the park and removing dog waste

For more information or to give feedback on the service please contact the community park ranger service areas managers:

• David Hime on 020 8533 2057
• Anna Scott on 020 7510 2950
• E-mail: parks@towerhamlets.gov.uk