Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens named among the country's best parks

The parks have been awarded a Green Flag for the fourth consecutive year

Dover District Council is celebrating after receiving the prestigious Green Flag Award for Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens. 

The Green Flag accreditation is an international quality mark for parks and green spaces and is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team caring for the parks. 

Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens have met the quality standard every year since the completion of a £3.1m ‘Parks for People’ project in 2021 with the National Lottery Heritage and Community Funds. 

Part of the project involved the major restoration of the Grade II listed Billiards Room in Kearsney Abbey which hosted its first weddings this summer. 

Cllr Charlotte Zosseder, cabinet member for community and corporate property, said: “We’re delighted to see Kearsney Parks awarded the Green Flag once again.  

“The award recognises the commitment and dedication of everyone who works so hard to maintain these important community assets, from DDC staff to volunteers and members of the public. 

“Thousands of people visit the parks every year and these green spaces are loved by locals and visitors alike.” 

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Kearsney Parks on achieving a Green Flag Award. 

“Kearsney Parks are vital green spaces for communities in the Dover district 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, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world. 

Notes to editors

Caption for image: DDC's parks development officer Joanne Shrimpton with volunteers from Kearsney Parks.

The Green Flag Award Scheme (http://greenflagaward.org/) is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.  

Any green space that is freely accessible to the public is eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award.  Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag Award status.  A Green Flag Community Award recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups. Green Heritage Site Accreditation is judged on the treatment of the site’s historic features and the standard of conservation.