Big Green Flag success for Canterbury

17th July 2019

Canterbury made a roaring success in the annual Green Flag awards on Tuesday; the district winning four awards it was announced.

Whitstable won two of the four accolades, as a joint effort from Duncan Down and Whitstable Castle meant both scooped prizes.

The Reculver Country Park in Herne Bay, as well as Westgate Parks in Canterbury were also granted awards.

The Green Flag awards are considered the pinnacle prize for publicly accessible parks and green spaces in the UK.

Reculver Castle in Herne Bay. Picture: John Fielding

Community Committee Cllr Neil Baker believed all four were worthy winners.

He said: “It’s fantastic news that these stunning open spaces have wowed the judges and hit the standards that are required to win a prestigious Green Flag.

“We must thank the huge contribution made by the groups who do so much great work in their respective parks – the Friends of Westgate Parks, the Friends of Duncan Down and the Whitstable Castle Trust.

“People give their spare time up to help look after our precious parks and gardens and we’re very grateful for this.

“At Reculver Country Park, the efforts of the council and its partners at the revamped visitor centre, HatHats, to improve the area over the last few years, which includes the children’s play area and more parking, has made this a very popular corner of the district.”

Picture: Lieven Smits

Ashford United cruise to win against Herne Bay

24th November 2018

Ashford United eased to a comfortable 4-1 win over Herne Bay in what was to prove to be Gary Alexander’s last match in charge.

Despite an impressive performance, Alexander was dismissed by the club later that day.

Goals from Harry Ottaway, Daniel Parish and a first-half brace from Samuel Corne mean United have leaped to 9th in the league, while Herne Bay remain 19th.

Firm favourites before the game, it took United 19 minutes to score, a great lob by Corne over Bay keeper Simon Overland, whose display was the only positive for the seaside team.

Corne’s 10th goal of the season twelve minutes later doubled the scoreline, his shot sliding underneath Overland whose touch meant it trickled into the empty net.

Bay then grabbed a goal back just three minutes later, a great left-footed shot by Bradley Schafer after being put through one-on-one with the keeper.

As the game appeared to be going into half-time nicely set-up for the second half, a superb individual goal by Harry just two minutes later destroyed any chance of a Herne Bay fightback.

Quick feet bought himself some space, and that was all he needed to rifle a shot into the top corner.

United have closed on the play-off places

With the game fizzling out in the second half with few chances, it took a set-piece for United to finally get a fourth goal.

Danny Parish launched a stunning free-kick off the post and into the net from 25 yards to get his fourth goal of the season, and seal a third win in a row for the team.

The team play Phoenix Sports next on Saturday hoping to continue their recent run of success.