Three in a Row! Cranbrook Country Park Secures Prestigious 2026 Green Flag Award
Cranbrook Town Council is celebrating a historic milestone as Cranbrook Country Park retains its Green Flag Award for the third consecutive year. This international stamp of quality officially recognises the park as one of the finest open spaces in the UK. Marking a historic "hat-trick" since its first win in 2024, the accolade honours the hard work, passion, and care invested by the town council, officers, grounds maintenance team, and our amazing local volunteers.
The 35-hectare park has seen significant ecological growth over the last two years. An ambitious tree planting project has successfully established more than 5,670 new trees to boost biodiversity. Along with the park's well-known Long, Stone, and Great meadows, these spaces provide a safe home for local wildlife. Exciting new additions, like the Mindfulness Trail, also give residents a quiet space to support their mental health and enjoy the natural world.
This year's win is backed by a huge jump in the park's official judging scores. The Country Park leaped into the highest possible category, scoring an overall band of 80+ out of 100, a big rise from its score of 70–74 in 2024. The judges gave top marks for both the park's management plans and its on-the-ground care, proving that Cranbrook's green space is officially operating at a gold standard.
Councillor Vikki Wright, Chair of Cranbrook Town Council, said: “To be awarded the Green Flag for a third consecutive year is a monumental honour for our town. This success is a direct reflection of our community's spirit. It belongs to the volunteers who give up their time, our hardworking staff and the residents who treat this beautiful park with great respect. Our long-term environmental commitments, including our extensive tree-planting schemes and ground maintenance, are really shaping the landscape for the future. We are dedicated to keeping up these high standards, ensuring that Cranbrook Country Park remains a vibrant, safe and welcoming jewel in the heart of Cranbrook for generations to come.”
The Cranbrook Town Council Ranger, Andy, added: “Managing Cranbrook Country Park is a massive team effort. Seeing the 5,670 new trees thriving and watching our local wildlife flourish shows that all the hard work is paying off. This Green Flag belongs to our dedicated maintenance team and more importantly, the amazing volunteers and community who help care for this space.”
Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, stated: “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. Cranbrook Town Council has shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed. 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. Congratulations to everyone involved."
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.
The Town Council warmly invites anyone interested in joining local volunteer conservation or maintenance projects to contact the Cranbrook Ranger at ranger@cranbrooktowncouncil.gov.uk. Come along and help us care for our award-winning country park.
