FOR the third year in a row, a park in Kent has been labelled one of the best in the country.
The Green Flag Award scheme rewards “well-managed parks and green spaces” while setting the standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces in the UK and across the world.
And, as part of their 2024 awards, they’ve once again recognised Ellington Park in Ramsgate.
The 12-acre Victorian park is found at the heart of the popular seaside town, with a long sandy stretch of beach.
Its website boasts about having more than 400 trees and a “rolling Victorian landscape” that was designed back in 1893.
The park is still earning plaudits more than 130 years later, after it was restored in 2021 by The Friends of Ellington Park and Thanet District Council with the support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Since then, work has been ongoing to ensure the park stay at its best, claiming the Green Flag award every year.
As part the improvements, a new multipurpose café and toilet building was created, as well as a new playground and pathways, a fully restored terrace and bandstand.
Extra plants and shrubbery were added throughout the park too.
Visitors are also fans of a pre-existing wildlife garden and pond from 2013, which the park claims “promotes a natural habitat by creating a home and feeding ground for animals and insects to enjoy”.
The park also has its own bookshop, managed by The Friends of Ellington Park’s volunteers.
Other features include a playground for children and a miniature railway, run by the Ramsgate & District Model Engineering Club.
They run regular train rides every Sunday during the warmer summer months.
Tickets for a journey are only £1 and purchased from whoever’s running the train before passengers board.
The Green Flag website said: “Ramsgate residents and visitors are overjoyed to see this public park returned to its rightful place on the list of Ramsgate’s beautiful heritage attractions.”
Sun Travel's Kara Godfrey visited Ramsgate to go for a drink in the world's biggest Wetherspoon pub.
It’s definitely huge so you don’t have to worry about being crammed in even on a busy Saturday.
It boasts 11,000 square feet of drinking space – including a huge terrace over the beach – and holds 1,500 punters.
There are more than 400 seats inside, with another 200 out the back too.
The downstairs has tables, bar seats and Victorian-style wooden booths, as well a very long bar, so getting around is easy.
There is an upstairs too which is just as grand, overlooking the rest of the pub.
Most people sit around the edges to be near one of the many beach views from the window.
If you are a fan of the Spoons pubs, then it is definitely worth a day trip – many of my friends in London were even discussing planning a pilgrimage to it.
The best time to come is in the summer to sit on the terrace overlooking the beach.
Cllr Steve Albon at Thanet District 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 added: “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.”
