Parks and green spaces in the district named among the country's best

Dover District Council is welcoming news that parks and green spaces in the district have been named among the country’s best – with Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens, as well as Samphire Hoe and Fort Burgoyne receiving Green Flag awards.

The Green Flag Award is an international quality mark for parks and green spaces and is testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in caring for the parks.

Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens, which are owned and run by Dover District Council, have met the quality standard every year since completion of the £3.1m Parks for People project in 2021 with the National Lottery Heritage and Community Funds.

This also comes as an exciting new-look play area is about to open in Kearsney Abbey following a range of renovations totalling over £150k.

Green Flag Awards were also awarded to Eurotunnel for Samphire Hoe, and The Land Trust for Fort Burgoyne, both of which are managed by the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership, which is based at DDC.

Cllr Lynne Wright, DDC Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Property said: “We’re delighted to see parks and green spaces in the district recognised, and we’re very pleased to have been awarded the Green Flag for Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens for the sixth year running. The award recognises the commitment of everyone who works so hard to maintain these important spaces, from staff and volunteers to the many visitors annually who help us keep the parks clean and tidy.”

Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy … As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like this that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard. Congratulations to everyone involved."

For more information on the national scheme, please see the Green Flag Award Scheme website, or for more information on the Kearsney Parks, please see the Kearsney Parks website. 

Notes to editors

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under contract from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.