A number of parks and green spaces in Kent have bagged a Green Flag Award for the first time.
Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens in Dover and Grove Ferry Picnic Site near Canterbury are among those collecting the gong that have never appeared on the list before.
Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens, Dover, has bagged a Green Flag Award this year for the first time. Picture: Tony Flashman
Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has unveiled the 2,127 parks and green spaces across the UK, including 186 in the south east, as the scheme celebrates 25 years as the international quality mark for parks.
A record number have achieved the award this year as open spaces served as a lifeline for people's mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic.
Research carried out by YouGov for Keep Britain Tidy over the summer shows 59% said they felt less stressed when using the park and 55% said they felt more positive in general.
A further 93% of people think parks and green spaces are important to their local community.
Keep Britain Tidy chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said: “As the award celebrates 25 years of raising the standard, Keep Britain Tidy is delighted to be the custodian of a scheme that does so much to ensure our parks and green spaces go from strength to strength.
Duncan Down in Whitstable has won a Green Flag Award. Picture: Ashley Clark
“At a time when parks have been at the heart of every community across the country it is perhaps not surprising that 95% of the public thinks that their local parks and green spaces need to be protected.
“This is why the Green Flag Award is so important. It ensures that parks and green spaces are managed to the highest standards and are safe and accessible for everyone to enjoy and we look forward to the next 25 years.”
Here is the full list of Green Flag Award winners in Kent:
Reculver Country Park - Canterbury City Council
Westgates Parks - Canterbury City Council
Duncan Down - Canterbury City Council with the Friends of Duncan Down
Kearnsey Abbey and Russell Gardens - Dover District Council
Kingsnorth Gardens - Folkestone and Hythe District Council
Lower Leas Coastal Park - Folkestone and Hythe District Council
Radnor Park - Folkestone and Hythe District Council
Reculver Country Park has won has Green Flag Award. Picture: Chris Davey
Royal Military Canal - Folkestone and Hythe District Council
Brockhill Country Park - Kent County Council
Grove Ferry Picnic Site - Kent County Council
Lullingstone Country Park - Kent County Council
Manor Park Country Park - Kent County Council
Pegwell Bay 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
Clare Park - Maidstone Borough Council
Mote Park in Maidstone has won a Green Flag Award
Cobtree Manor Park - Maidstone Borough Council
Mote Park - Maidstone Borough Council
Whatman Park (Millennium River Park) - Maidstone Borough Council
Broomhill Park - Medway Council
Capstone Farm Country Park - Medway Council
Gillingham Park - Medway Council
Hillyfields Community Park - Medway Council
Riverside Country Park - Medway Council
The Great Lines Heritage Park: Field of Fire - Medway Council
The Vines Gardens - Medway Council
Shorne Woods Country Park has won a Green Flag Award this year
Ranscombe Farm Reserve - Medway Council in Partnership with Plantlife
The Vine - Sevenoaks Town Council
Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park - Swale Borough Council
Haysden Country Park - Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council
Leybourne Lakes Country Park - Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council
Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground - Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council
Calverley Grounds - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Dunorlan Park - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Grosvenor and Hilbert Park - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
St John's Recreation Ground - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
The Grove - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Woodbury Park Cemetery - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
