Wednesday 28th July

Gunpowder Works Retains its Green Flag Award

Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park has once again been recognised for leading the way in heritage and conservation. The works have been awarded a Green Flag and Green Heritage Site status. The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces.

The park is managed by Swale Borough Council in partnership with Groundwork Kent & Medway, who run the educational visits with schools and run holiday activities, also manage the Visitor Centre and Conservation volunteers and work closely with the Friends of Oare Gunpowder Works. Swale Borough Council also benefit from support and advice from the Oare Gunpowder Works Advisory Group, composed of representatives from Swale & Faversham Councils, Groundwork Kent & Medway, the Friends Group, the Faversham Society, and local wildlife groups.

One of the country’s best-preserved Gunpowder Works and historic country parks, Oare opened to the public in 2005, after extensive renovations made possible with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, as well as English Heritage, the Forestry Commission, SEEDA, DEFRA, Faversham Town Council and Swale Borough Council.

Green Heritage Site Accreditation is sponsored by English Heritage to promote best practice in the understanding, care, upkeep and promotion of parks and green spaces of heritage interest across England. The Visitor Centre is open to the public on weekends and bank holidays from April to November inclusive, and tells the story of gunpowder both locally and nationally with the aid of old photographs, drawings, and models.

Councillor David Simmons, portfolio holder for environment and rural affairs, said: “It is great that everyonone has worked so hard to to be able to achieve this award for four years in a row. Being able to retain this award is a great achievment and demonstrates our commitment to create a cleaner and greener Swale for everyone.”