A green spaces funding project has received an endowment of more than £70,000.

Waltham Forest council has secured a grant totalling £70,500 from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to create new pocket parks at locations across the borough.

The grant will allow the council to create four new pocket parks.

Proposals for these parks were drawn up by local community groups including OrganicLea Community Growers, Love North Chingford Community Interest Company and Wood Street Community Interest Company.

The council has planned to collaborate with these groups to design and create the pocket parks which will be open to everyone once completed.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for the Environment Cllr Clyde Loakes said: "I know that residents will be as pleased as I am at this news.

"More green spaces and places across our brilliant borough - what's not to love?

"Pocket parks provide small areas of calm in our bustling borough, where anyone can take a few minutes to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings of grass, plants and trees.

"We know that access to green spaces boosts people's mental health and improves the quality of the air we breathe, helping to protect little lungs from the damage caused by air pollution.

"The council works hard with residents and partners to create and maintain clean, green and safe neighbourhoods where all feel welcome.

"These new pocket parks help us to achieve that, benefitting even more people in Waltham Forest.

"I can't wait to start work with the community groups who have drawn up these proposals."

Work on the new pocket parks is expected to start this summer.

Roger Brown of Love North Chingford Community Interest Company said: "I'm really excited - this grant will help us bring a derelict piece of land at the centre of Chingford Green back into community use as a toddler-friendly pocket park.

"It is a great example of partnership working with the council and helps to boost our town centre.

"It is the first of many planned environmental improvements here."

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government wants to learn from these projects to help determine best practice for green space management of public spaces across the UK.aq