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.

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.

“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

• 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

• 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

• 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

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