Ellington Park in Ramsgate has won a Green Flag Award for the third year running.
The Green Flag scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the UK and around the world.
Ellington Park has also achieved Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, for the management and promotion of its historic features.
In 2021 Ellington Park was restored by a partnership between The Friends of Ellington Park and Thanet District Council. The National Lottery Heritage Fund supported the restoration with £1.8million from its ‘Parks for People’ programme.
The project was a sympathetic regeneration of the park, ensuring its heritage remained at its heart. The park features a multipurpose café and toilet building, along with a children’s playground. The park’s historic pathways, flint terrace and balustrade were restored, as was the 120-year-old bandstand.
Cllr Steve Albon, Cabinet Member for Cleansing and Coastal Services at Thanet council, said: “For the third year running, Ellington Park has received a Green Flag Award, which is fantastic news. The ongoing recognition of the park’s high standards is down to the hard work and dedication of council officers, the Friends of Ellington Park, and the brilliant community volunteers who keep it looking at its best. Ellington Park is a fabulous asset to the local area, and it’s great that each year we see it going from strength to strength.”
The Friends of Ellington Park said: “We are delighted that Ellington Park has received a Green Flag Award and Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the third year. It is an amazing achievement and recognises the hard work and commitment by all involved that goes into making the park a beautiful open space for everyone to enjoy.”
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, added: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Ellington Park on achieving a Green Flag Award.
“Ellington Park is a vital green space for communities in Ramsgate 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.”
Ellington Park is 131 years old this September with the late Victorian and Edwardian landscaped area across 13 acres.
The park’s history began in 1892 when the Ellington Estate passed into the ownership of the Ramsgate Corporation, now Thanet District Council, as a place of public recreation. The park was designed by the Victorian landscape company Joseph Cheal and Son, known for their work at Hever Castle and Kirkstall Abbey and laid out in 1893.
Its key features remain today including the pathways, perimeter gates, railings, bandstand and the Pulhamesque rockery.
