District scoops Green Flag hat-trick

Three of the district’s open spaces have once again received prestigious Green Flag Awards in today’s announcement by Keep Britain Tidy.

The three sites, which are all owned by Canterbury City Council and managed in partnership with volunteer organisations, are:

Westgate Parks
Reculver Country Park
Gorrell Valley Nature Reserve (formerly Duncan Down) (pictured above)

Green Flags recognise parks and green spaces that have high standards of management, follow environmentally-friendly practices and involve the community to create attractive places for people and wildlife to enjoy.

The council’s Cabinet member for open spaces, Cllr Ashley Clark, said: “We are delighted to receive this good news that bears witness to the rewarding partnership that exists between the council, Canenco, their subcontractors and the magnificent continuation of skilled and dedicated volunteers who put in hundreds of hours every year to put the icing on the cake.

“The standards set by the judges are high and there is a rigorous programme of inspection. In some cases like at Gorrell Valley Nature Reserve, volunteer resilience is demonstrated by 17 successive Green Flags.

“Above all we must not forget the other partner, nature itself, which provides variety and diversity over the seasons that makes these places the splendid and valued places that they are.”

The Green Flag scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

See the full list of Green Flag winners for 2022.

Published: 26 July 2022