Keep Britain Tidy judges 30 Kent and Medway green spaces among best in country
Published: 00:01, 28 July 2014
Updated: 05:19, 28 July 2014
A total of 30 Kent parks have been awarded prestigious green flag status - after being judged among the best in the country.
The award, presented by Keep Britain Tidy, has been given to more than 140 of the region's parks and green spaces.
The county this year boasts one more award than last year, giving them all the mark of a quality green space.
Among Kent's winners are well-known beauty spots including Lullingstone Country Park, Shorne Woods Country Park and Mote Park.
Also recognised are smaller attractions, including Duncan Down and The Grove.
The Green Flag Awards are judged every year by 700 volunteer judges who visit sites and assess them against eight separate criteria, including cleanliness, sustainability and conservation.
The launch of the awards coincides with this year’s Love Parks Week, also run by Keep Britain Tidy, when thousands of people up and down the country are visiting the nation's parks and green spaces.
Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: "It’s another record-breaking year for the scheme.
"This is something well worth celebrating and testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, supported by some amazing volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.
"The parks sector is facing some tough challenges so it is heartening to see that they are committed to maintaining and improving standards."
The Kent awards in full
Curtis Wood Park - Canterbury City Council
Reculver Country Park - Canterbury City Council
Duncan Down - Canterbury City Councl with the Friends of Duncan Down
Clare Park - Maidstone Borough Council
Cobtree Manor Park - Maidstone Brough Council
Mote Park - Maidstone Borough Council
Whatman Park - Maidstone
Broomhill Park - Medway Council
Capstone Farm Country Park - Medway Council
Hillyfields Community Park - Medway Council
Riverside Country Park - Medway Council
The Vines Gardens - Medway Council
The Great Lines - Medway Council
Lower Leas Coastal Park - Shepway District Council
Royal Military Canal - Shepway District Council
Brockhill Country Park - Kent County Council
Lullingstone Country Park - Kent County Council
Manor Park Country Park - Kent County Council
Shorne Woods Country Park - Kent County Council
Teston Bridge Country Park - Kent County Council
Trosley Country Park - Kent County Council
Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park - Swale Borough council
Swanley Park - Swanley Town Council
Haysden Country Park - Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council
Dunorlan Park - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
The Grove - Tunbridge Wlls Borough Council
Woodbury Park Cemetery - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Whitstable Castle and Park - Whitstable Castle
Samphire Hoe - Eurotunnel
Jeskyns - The Forestry Commission
Whatman Park (Millennium River Park) - Maidstone Borough Council
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KentOnline reporter