Eight of Medway’s greenspaces have once again been recognised by the Green Flag Award scheme.
Medway’s eight award-winning parks are: Broomhill Park, Capstone Farm Country Park, Gillingham Park, Hillyfields Community Park, Riverside Country Park, The Great Lines Heritage Park, The Vines Gardens and Ranscombe Farm Reserve.
The Green Flag accreditation, the international quality mark for parks and greenspaces, is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for Medway’s greenspaces so that visitors and residents alike can enjoy them.
Great Lines Heritage Park has also achieved the Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, for the management and promotion of its historic features.
Riverside Country Park
Something for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy
Cllr Simon Curry, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, said: “Ensuring people have access to high quality greenspaces is so important, and Medway has a wide range of greenspaces with brilliant facilities offering something for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy.
“It is brilliant news that eight of our fantastic parks have been recognised again by Keep Britain Tidy and the Green Flag Awards scheme. I would like to thank each and every person whose hard work and dedication helps to keep our parks maintained to this award-winning standard – from friends’ groups and volunteers to council officers, Plantlife and Medway Norse. Everyone works hard throughout the year to maintain our parks throughout all seasons, but with summer here, now is the perfect time to head out and enjoy Medway’s greenspaces!”
Vital greenspaces for communities
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in achieving a Green Flag Award. These are vital greenspaces for communities in Medway 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 these sites maintain 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, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and greenspaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of greenspaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.