Croydon and Hackney are among seven boroughs that are competing for £900,000 from the Mayor’s Big Green Fund.

The Croydon-based “Access to Wandle Park” project and the “Wetlands to Wetlands Greenway” plan in Hackney are among those in the running for up to £175,000 investment from the Mayor’s Big Green Fund to improve London’s green spaces.

Councillor Kathy Bee, Croydon Council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, told EastLondonLines: “Wandle Park is a real gem in our borough and we’re delighted our project to improve access to it has been shortlisted for the Big Green Fund award.”

“If we were to get funding, we would be able to significantly improve access to Wandle Park from the town centre, in particular for cyclists and pedestrians, and make a real contribution to the huge regeneration already under way in Croydon.”

One of the improvements that Croydon council is trying to make is to move the bus stop and add a wheeling channel on the bridge for bikes and pushchairs at Waddon New Road.

Jubilee Bridge at Cairo New Road is also awaiting a makeover of a new staircase complete with a wheeling channel to be installed if the project wins the funding.

Green Spaces Wandle Park Pic: Croydon Council

Hackney’s bid is a new 3km long green ‘corridor’ between two soon-to-be open nature reserves in Hackney and Walhamstow.

The project aims to allow cyclists and pedestrians to avoid the heavy traffic of Seven Sisters Road and connect people with alternative routes into Central London and the Olympic Park.

Councillor Feryal Demici, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “As well as connecting the new wetlands reserves in north Hackney and Walthamstow, the route will also help unite the communities living either side of the Lea Valley.”

“We hope that this project will inspire the communities of Hackney and Waltham Forest to get active outdoors whilst they experience the natural world.”

Green Spaces wetlands map Pic: Hackney Council

Members of the public are to decide which project deserves the funding. Londoners are encouraged to vote in support for a favorite green space improvement plan. The polls are open on-line until Monday March 2.

The Mayor’s Big Green Fund is the second round of funding green spaces in London. Previous winners include environmental projects in Tower Hamlets, Hounslow, Waltham Forest, Sutton, Bexley and Redbridge.