Lambeth Park up for £400,000 prize

Lambeth Council has issued a rallying call to London gardeners to get out of their greenhouses and on the net to vote for Kennington Park and Spring Gardens as it goes up against 45 other parks across the capital to decide the best park in London.

The park will have stiff competition for the £400,000 prize after Regents Park won the central region category of Britains Best Park this week.

The council claims it would use the money to give the park and gardens a makeover, making them safer and more attractive for the local community.

Lambeth council cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport Mark Bennett explained that voting for your favourite park was even more important than voting for programmes such as Im a Celebrity – get me out of here.

"People will be voting for their favourite contestant on X-Factor or Strictly Come Dancing this weekend, but this is a competition where people sitting at home actually get to share the prize," he said.

"To win £400,000 would be a brilliant boost for these parks, so get voting Lambeth! And once youve voted, tell your friends, neighbours, school and work mates to do the same!"

The competition is part of mayor Boris Johnsons plan to get the city ready for the 2012 Olympics.