Back-to-back Green Flag Awards for Victoria Park

For the second year running, Victoria Park has received the coveted Green Flag Award, which cements its place as one of the UK’s best parks and green spaces. 

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under contract 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.

Victoria Park is one of a record breaking 2,391 parks and green spaces in the UK to achieve the award this year, which is huge testament to the efforts that have been made to make the park a truly outstanding public asset to the Ashford borough.

“We are extremely proud to have received the Green Flag Award for the second year in a row,” Cllr Guy Pullen, Cabinet Member for Parks and Recreation said. “So much work behind the scenes has gone into making Victoria Park one of Kent’s crown jewels and it’s immensely satisfying to be rewarded for that.

“I’d like to thank the local community, the Friends of Victoria Park group and everyone in the Victoria Park team, who have worked tirelessly to ensure Victoria Park is a place where people can spend time with their family, get active and enjoy some of the stunning scenery and nature.”

“Victoria Park has shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed,” Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, added. “As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like this that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard.”

Over the past year, Victoria Park has been incredibly busy. It hosted Wassail 2026, complete with a guest appearance from Flora the Giant, while it also hosted a series of free paediatric first aid course.

Apple juice was made with the community using fruit from the park’s orchard and a bike event took place for Mr Harper’s Day, which included a stunt display.

In addition, Victoria Park volunteers were recently taught how to use scythes in order to look after their meadow spaces.

Coming up, the park will host the Barklife dog show in August, Harry Potter Day in October, free creative workshops (knitting, writing, painting) and there are also plans for a summer holiday forest school.

To see what else is happening at Victoria Park, please visit their website.