Local Country Parks Celebrate Green Flag Success

Swale Borough Council is celebrating after receiving a Green Flag Award for Milton Creek Country Park and Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park.

The news that Milton Creek and Oare have achieved the accreditation - the international quality mark for parks and green spaces - "is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space so that everyone can enjoy it" says the council.

Cllr Rich Lehmann, chair of the environment committee, told SFM News: "We’re delighted that Milton Creek Country Park in Sittingbourne and Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park in Faversham have both been awarded Green Flag Awards again this year. This is the second consecutive year the Milton Creek Country Park has received the award, and the 18th year in a row for the Gunpowder Works. We work hard alongside teams of dedicated volunteers to create parks and green spaces that meet the high standards expected of Green Flag parks. We are lucky to have such a fantastic variety of coastline, countryside, and green spaces across Swale for residents and visitors to explore. We know how much these spaces matter to people, so it’s pleasing to see recognition of all the hard work that is put in to maintaining them.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag award scheme manager Paul Todd MBE told SFM News: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Milton Creek Country Park and Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park in achieving the Green Flag Award. These are vital green spaces for the community in Swale, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”

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

A full list of Green Flag 2023-24 Award-winning parks and green spaces is available here.