Residents celebrate Duncan Down receiving Green Flag award in Whitstable

by Neill Barston

Residents are celebrating the success of Duncan Down receiving a green flag award for environmental excellence from the Civic Trust.

The 50 acre park has gained the accolade for the fourth year running for its value as a public open space. It is managed jointly by a group of volunteers working with Canterbury City Council, which marked the award with a gathering at the site this week.

As a haven for a wide range of wildlife, in 2008 it received more than £9,000 funding towards its maintenance and has village green protected status.

Ashley Clark, secretary of Friends of Duncan Down believed the cash boost had made a significant difference in enhancing its landscaping.

He said: "This is one of the largest village greens in the country and of great value to the area. We have a really good working relationship with the council over the management of the site.

"It is a glowing accolade for hundreds of hours of work given by volunteers over the last year (771 hours in 2008 and nearly 500 hours this year to date). We have now completed our lottery funded project that has seen the ponds extended, the creation of attractive new glades, a new ride that affords a circuit of the Downs with panoramic views and an educational leaflet that has been circulated to local schools and is available at local Vets, the Whitstable Improvement Trust, the Kite Shop and the Ship Pub in Whitstable."

Speaking at the award event, resident Amberlie Robinson added: "The down is a really lovely place. You wouldn't expect to find such a space as this in an urban area, it has been very well maintained."