No Green Flags for Sheppey
- Jul 30
- 4 min read
Swale council has won coveted Green Flags for three of its parks - but none are on Sheppey.
Awards have gone to Milton Creek Country Park at Sittingbourne (for the 21st year in a row), Oare Gunpowder Works (for the fifth-year running) and Faversham Recreation Ground (for the third consecutive time).
But once again, there was nothing for The Glen at Minster or Barton’s Point Coastal Park at Sheerness.
This is despite Swale council closing Barton’s Point Boathouse café for nearly two years (from December 2022 to May 2024) while it chased plans to turn the area and lake into a water park, only for the scheme (which was kept secret from the public) to be dashed following a damning environmental report from consultants.
The Glen has also failed to get a Green Flag despite boasting a popular children’s playing area, superb views across the sea to Southend and having its long-standing natural pond cleared of debris.
However, brambles have been allowed to take over The Glen’s Bunny Bank, making it inaccessible for many.
Minster-on-Sea parish council has now stepped in, following talks with Sale council officers, and has agreed to commission a community payback team to cut down the undergrowth next month and to open up the access point from Whybornes Chase.
There is also talk of building a wooden bridge onto the pond’s tiny mud island.
According to Swale council, Barton’s Point Coastal Park will be transformed into a “vibrant community and outdoor education hub” protecting its “incredibly rare natural environment” for “years to come”.
After reading the consultants’ report, Cllr Dolley Wooster (Lab, Sheerness, who chairs the council’s environmental services and climate change committee, said: “We always knew Barton’s Point was a special place that our community cherishes. We were delighted to discover just how unique its ecology is with the rare waters hosting a truly prized ecosystem.
“As soon as we received the survey results, we got to work. We wanted to enhance and protect this environment; offer something unique for residents to enjoy and ensure we do not disrupt the people who already love and use the park.
“Our new plan aims to strike the perfect balance. We are making sure Barton’s Point continues to be a place for the community to come together and learn about our environment.
“We want to fly the internationally recognised Green Flag here as soon as possible which will stand as the perfect testament to how special Barton’s Point really is.”
The year-long survey highlighted the “highly unique mix of salt and fresh water at the park's lake” which many Islanders already knew.
A fresh approach to Barton’s Point was given the go-ahead by the council earlier this month (July 8).
Many Islanders have called for the cesspit serving the modern £140,703 toilet block to be finally plumbed into the mains.
And they have asked for the narrow access road to be widened, in line with other similar parks, so two cars can use it at the same time.
This is not featured on the new plans but is likely to be tested on August Bank Holiday Sunday (August 30) when the Rotary Club takes over the entire park for its first Summer Spectacular.
The event already boasts 87 attractions including live bands, funfair, pony rides, dog show, water activities, displays, wrestling and tug of war matches.
According to the council’s eight-point plan it will:
1. “Strive” to open a community focussed café concession dedicated to hosting events and activities that bring people together;
2. Search for a partner with an “outdoor learning specialist” to give visitors a chance to learn more about the importance of the site;
3. Maintain the park grounds to “higher standards” and apply for Green Flag status;
4. Keep the lake open for recreational use but with new signage and buoys so visitors know how to protect sensitive water edges and banks;
5. Host annual meetings with site users to ensure everyone works together to protect local wildlife;
6. Continue hosting popular events like fairs and circuses, planning them carefully so they do not disturb nature;
7. Retain the capital funding for a drainage project;
8. Create a Barton’s Point friends or community group.
To earn a Green Flag, a park must meet the “highest possible standards” for cleanliness, community safety, inclusivity and nature conservation.
Speaking after the latest awards were announced, Cllr Wooster said: "These awards show just how lucky we are in Swale to have such beautiful and varied natural spaces available to everyone.
"They are a direct result of the hard work and commitment of our amazing local volunteers who work alongside our green space officers to help these parks flourish.
"With the summer weather here, we want everyone to plan a free day out at one of these award-winning parks. You can learn about local history, get active, and enjoy nature right here in Swale.
"We want even more of our fantastic spaces to get this recognition. We are already working hard to help the rare ecosystem at Barton’s Point fly the Green Flag next."
Paul Todd, the manager of Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag award scheme, said: “Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy. Yet for millions of people, particularly in the most deprived areas, local parks simply don’t feel safe or welcoming.
“With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it’s a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways to improve people’s quality of life.
“Swale Borough Council and the dedicated volunteers have shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed.”
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