Four sites across Swale receive the prestigious Green Flag Award
31
Jul
A record number of parks and green spaces across the UK have reached the international quality standard for parks and green spaces required to receive a coveted Green Flag Award in 2024 and four of them were in Swale.
The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces. It sets the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world and is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team and volunteers that care for them, for visitors and residents alike to enjoy.
Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park wins for an impressive 19th year in a row, Milton Creek Country Park celebrates its third consecutive win, Faversham Recreation Ground has received the award for the first time along with Bob Fowler’s Community Allotment.
Cllr Rich Lehmann, chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee,
“We know how important these green spaces are to our community; offering a place for residents to get out in nature, keep active and meet with friends and family.
“So, it is incredibly pleasing to see some of our most beautiful natural assets recognised with Green Flag awards. Especially as it gives us an opportunity to put a spotlight on the hard work of the committed volunteers and our officers.
“The awards are only given to green spaces that meet the highest standards, and this would not be possible without the members of the community who pour their time and passion into them.
“Faversham Rec receiving the award for the first time shows we, as a council, are striving to move forward and improve Swale, whilst working hard to maintain the high standards of our other country parks.
“We are fortunate to live in a location with such a unique mix of coastline, countryside and green spaces and are proud of the standard we maintain them to, with the help of Swale’s passionate volunteers.”
Kerry Briffit, Biodiversity and Sustainability Lead for Southern Housing said:
“We were keen to support the application of a Green Flag Community Award due to the hard work and dedication by the volunteer plot holders. Over the past ten years, Bob Fowler’s Community Allotment has flourished from the efforts of our residents and community and is a hidden oasis that offers opportunities to increase the local biodiversity and boost health and wellbeing and sustainable food growing.
“The project launched in 2013, after Bob, a former employee of a legacy Southern Housing organisation, transformed the area from a historical fly tipping site, into a peaceful area for the local community to enjoy.”
James Tucker, Contracts Manager at JB Landscape said:
“We’ve always assisted with giving back projects in the past and jumped at the opportunity to help Southern Housing with obtaining their first Green Flag Award. Over the past few months, we’ve provided new ramps and handrails to the composting toilet, installed shingle areas, removal of waste and vegetation clearance. Receiving the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication by all the volunteers and the amazing team at Southern Housing. I’m proud we could be a part of such an exciting project.”
The team of volunteers at Milton Creek Country Park said:
“We are very proud to have been awarded the Green Flag again this year, and all the hard work has been recognised by the judges and regular park users.”
“Kris Staples, the park ranger, is amazing, and is why we come to the park each week and work our socks off.”
Georgie and Terry Gates, volunteers at the Faversham Rec, said:
“We are pleased to be a part of an enthusiastic team, led by Mathew Cockell, the Ground Ranger.
“It is great to have our work recognised, however it is with Matt’s guidance we have succeeded.
“We definitely make a difference.”
Paul Jesset, volunteer at the Oare Gunpowder Works, said:
“The friends of Oare Gunpowder Works are delighted that we have again achieved Green Flag status.
“Our volunteers work hard to balance the tasks of both conservation and maintenance to achieve a high standard of preservation for visitors in this unique location”.
Paul Todd MBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, said:
“I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Milton Creek Country Park, Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park and the Faversham Recreation Ground on achieving a Green Flag Award.
“These are vital green spaces for communities in Swale to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.
“We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.
“It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”
The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces. It sets the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world and is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team and volunteers that care for them, for visitors and residents alike to enjoy.
Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park wins for an impressive 19th year in a row, Milton Creek Country Park celebrates its third consecutive win, Faversham Recreation Ground has received the award for the first time along with Bob Fowler’s Community Allotment.
Cllr Rich Lehmann, chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee,
“We know how important these green spaces are to our community; offering a place for residents to get out in nature, keep active and meet with friends and family.
“So, it is incredibly pleasing to see some of our most beautiful natural assets recognised with Green Flag awards. Especially as it gives us an opportunity to put a spotlight on the hard work of the committed volunteers and our officers.
“The awards are only given to green spaces that meet the highest standards, and this would not be possible without the members of the community who pour their time and passion into them.
“Faversham Rec receiving the award for the first time shows we, as a council, are striving to move forward and improve Swale, whilst working hard to maintain the high standards of our other country parks.
“We are fortunate to live in a location with such a unique mix of coastline, countryside and green spaces and are proud of the standard we maintain them to, with the help of Swale’s passionate volunteers.”
James Tucker, Kerry Briffit and Steve Bartholomew
Kerry Briffit, Biodiversity and Sustainability Lead for Southern Housing said:
“We were keen to support the application of a Green Flag Community Award due to the hard work and dedication by the volunteer plot holders. Over the past ten years, Bob Fowler’s Community Allotment has flourished from the efforts of our residents and community and is a hidden oasis that offers opportunities to increase the local biodiversity and boost health and wellbeing and sustainable food growing.
“The project launched in 2013, after Bob, a former employee of a legacy Southern Housing organisation, transformed the area from a historical fly tipping site, into a peaceful area for the local community to enjoy.”
James Tucker, Contracts Manager at JB Landscape said:
“We’ve always assisted with giving back projects in the past and jumped at the opportunity to help Southern Housing with obtaining their first Green Flag Award. Over the past few months, we’ve provided new ramps and handrails to the composting toilet, installed shingle areas, removal of waste and vegetation clearance. Receiving the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication by all the volunteers and the amazing team at Southern Housing. I’m proud we could be a part of such an exciting project.”
The team of volunteers at Milton Creek Country Park said:
“We are very proud to have been awarded the Green Flag again this year, and all the hard work has been recognised by the judges and regular park users.”
“Kris Staples, the park ranger, is amazing, and is why we come to the park each week and work our socks off.”
Georgie and Terry Gates, volunteers at the Faversham Rec, said:
“We are pleased to be a part of an enthusiastic team, led by Mathew Cockell, the Ground Ranger.
“It is great to have our work recognised, however it is with Matt’s guidance we have succeeded.
“We definitely make a difference.”
Paul Jesset, volunteer at the Oare Gunpowder Works, said:
“The friends of Oare Gunpowder Works are delighted that we have again achieved Green Flag status.
“Our volunteers work hard to balance the tasks of both conservation and maintenance to achieve a high standard of preservation for visitors in this unique location”.
Paul Todd MBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, said:
“I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Milton Creek Country Park, Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park and the Faversham Recreation Ground on achieving a Green Flag Award.
“These are vital green spaces for communities in Swale to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.
“We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.
“It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”