Scores of Kent parks have been recognised by the Green Flag Award Scheme as among the best in the country.

This year, for the first time, Ranscombe Farm Reserve in Cuxton, which is managed by Plantlife, has received the accreditation.

The Green Flag Award scheme, which is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces.

It sets the benchmark standard for their management across the UK and around the world.

Kent's parks and greenspaces are part of more than 2,000 sites across the country to collect the award for this year and will be joining landmarks across the country, including the White Cliffs of Dover.

The White Cliffs will be lit up to celebrate the awards scheme and to say a massive ‘thank you’ to the thousands of parks staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to give people some fantastic places to escape to.

The announcement, normally made in July, was delayed this year due to Covid- 19 and while dedicated staff dealt with challenges that went along with a huge influx of extra visitors over the summer.

A Green Flag Community Award was also given to Bearsted Woodland Trust, in Maidstone, this year.

Green Flag Awards have been given to three sites in run by Canterbury City Council.

They are Reculver Country Park in Reculver, Herne Bay, Westgate Gardens in St Peter's Street, Canterbury and Duncan Down in Whitstable which is jointly managed by the council and the Friends of Duncan Down.

Green Flag Awards have also been awarded to three sites managed by Folkestone and Hythe District Council.

These are The Lower Leas Coastal Park in Sandgate Road, Folkestone, the Radnor Park in Folkestone and the Royal Military Canal which starts in west Hythe and runs to East Sussex.

In the Maidstone Borough Council area, four parks were given Green Flag Awards.

These are Clare Park in Tonbridge Road, Cobtree Manor Park in Forstal Road, Aylesford, Mote Park in Moat Avenue, and Whatman Park (Millennium River Park) at Waterside Gate, in St Peter's Street.

Seven parks run by Kent Council Council were also given the Green Flag status.

These are Brockhill Country Park in Sandling Road, Hythe, Saltwood, Lullingstone Country Park in Castle Road, Eynsford,

Manor Park Country Park in St Leonards Street, West Malling and Pegwell Bay in Sandwich Road, Ramsgate.

Other's run by KCC to get awards were, Shorne Woods Country Park in Brewers Road, Shorne, Gravesend, Teston Bridge Country in Teston Lane, Teston and Trosley Country Park in Waterlow Road Vigo, Gravesend.

One park run by Sevenoaks Town Council, The Vine in Park Lane, also scooped a Green Flag Award.

Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park, in Western Link, Faversham, which is managed by Swale Borough Council was also given Green Flag status, but was also given Green Heritage Site status by the scheme.

Three greenspaces managed by Swanley Town Council, also scooped Green Flag status.

These are Elephant Park in Swanley, St Mary's Recreation Ground in St Mary's Road and Swanley Town Council, Swanley Park in New Barn Road, Swanley.

Eight parks run by Medway Council were given the Green Flag status.

These were Broomhill Park in Strood and Capstone Farm Country Park in Chatham.

Four in Gillingham also scooped awards, they were Gillingham Park in Canterbury Street, Hillyfields Community Park in Parr Avenue, Riverside Country Park in Lower Rainham Road and The Great Lines Heritage Park in Brompton Road.

The park is also home to The Chatham Naval Memorial.

The Vines in Crow Lane, Rochester was also given the status as was Ranscombe Farm Reserve in Cuxton.

Three parks run by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council also got the Green Flag status.

They are Haysden Country Park in Lower Haysden Lane, Tonbridge, Leybourne Lakes Country in Malling Road, Snodland, and

Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground, The The Slade, Tonbridge.

And seven parks run by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council were also given the Green Flag status.

The parks to get the award were Calverley Grounds in Mountfield Gardens, and Dunorlan Park in Pembury Road, got a two awards as it also scooped Green Heritage Site this year.

Others were, Grosvenor and Hilbert Park in Upper Grosvenor Road, St John's Recreation in Beltring Road, The Grove in Royal Tunbridge Wells and Woodbury Park Cemetery in Woodbury Park Road.

The award winning parks all have something different to offer visitors, from lakes, military history, woodlands and stunning views.

Ranscombe Farm Reserve in Medway is an historic landscape famous for its rare wild flowers including prickly poppy, night flowering catchfly and blue pimpernel.

Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “We have always known just how important our parks and green spaces are for the physical and mental health of everyone.

“All the research shows that spending time in good-quality green space can improve people’s health and wellbeing, that is why it is important that they are managed to the recognised standard of the Green Flag Award.

'It is testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of parks staff and volunteers...'

"This is now something that millions more recognise after the challenges of the past six months.

"All those involved in the Green Flag Award should be congratulated on their achievement.

"It is testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of parks staff and volunteers."

To find out more about the Green Flag Awards, click here.

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