There are 16 good reasons to move to Kent, because that’s the number of open spaces in the county that have won prestigious Green Flag awards this year.

The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. The award scheme began in 1996 as a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country. It was also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve the same high environmental standards, creating a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas.

Winning a Green Flag award brings excellent publicity. Both the media and the public are becoming increasingly aware that a site flying a Green Flag is a high quality green space.

Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status. Across the country, owners, managers and staff of many parks and green spaces work tirelessly to ensure their application for the prestigious award is successful, and the number of applicants increases year after year.

There has recently been much discussion about the declining quality of city parks and lack of focus upon rural green spaces. While this is undoubtedly a cause for concern in some places there are also many examples of thriving, popular sites run by dedicated, enthusiastic people working closely with their local communities.

Many places that were run-down and neglected just a few years ago are now shining examples of outstanding green space management, and this shows the way forward. The Green Flag award scheme is the impetus to an ever-increasing improvement in the quality of our parks and green spaces.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Baroness Andrews said: "In our busy modern lives, parks and green spaces are invaluable as areas where young and old can come together to relax, exercise and play.

"England’s parks provide great examples of this and show just how important green spaces can be for everyone as centrepoints of the community."

KENT’S FLAG-WINNING PARKS ARE

Brockhill Country Park (Kent CC), Clare Park (Maidstone BC), Duncan Down, Whitstable (Canterbury CC), Dunorlan Park (Tunbridge Wells DC), Haysden Country Park (Tonbridge & Malling BC), Leybourne Lakes Country Park (Tonbridge & Malling BC), Lower Leas Coastal Park (Shepway DC), Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park (Swale BC), Reculver Country Park (Canterbury CC), Riverside Country Park (Medway C), Samphire Hoe (Eurotunnel), Shorne Wood Country Park (Kent CC), The Grove (Tunbridge Wells DC), Trosley Country Park (Kent CC) and Woodbury Park Cemetery (Tunbridge Wells DC).