Contents 1 Foreword 3 2 The Country Parks’ 4 contribution to wider outcomes 3 Vision and strategic aims 5 4 Providing a network 6 of high quality and biodiverse country parks 5 Increasing visitor numbers 8 to the country parks 6 Ensuring the service is financially self-sustaining as possible 7 Delivery and performance 11 management Appendix. The Country 12 Parks’ contribution to wider outcomes 1 Foreword Kent County Council (KCC) is privileged to own and manage a of country parks and countryside sites which contain some of the highest quality natural habitats and landscapes that Kent has to offer. This four year strategy sets out how we intend to protect and manage these natural environments at the same time as providing high quality opportunities for individuals, families and communities to play, and relax in these environments. Every day, our parks are home to: • Walkers keeping fit in all weathers • Children learning to engage with nature • Families relishing spending quality time together • Runners delighting in the landscape • Horse riders and cyclists savouring the traffic free rides • Local businesses blue sky thinking in our meeting rooms • People enjoying the and tranquility • A wide variety of plants and wildlife Over the period of the last strategy (2014-17), KCC’s Country Parks team have maintained high customer satisfaction ratings and achieved Green Flag awards for seven of our parks, despite unprecedented budget pressures. We have been able to reduce our demand on Kent residents’ council tax by increasing the amount of income we raise in the parks through high quality cafes, birthday parties for youngsters, car parking charges, the production and sale of coppiced timber, and other innovative schemes. All the money spent in the parks, is reinvested directly back into the parks. We are proud of our country parks, and we are equally proud of the difference they have made to individuals and communities across Kent in recent years. The financial pressures are not likely to diminish in 2017 - 2021, but neither will our commitment to continue to provide inspirational parks for all to enjoy. 3
To provide a network of high quality country parks, we intend to pursue the following objectives between 2017 and 2021: Objective 1: Ensure high quality are provided, maintained and improved and that, where possible, the quality of our standards of management are independently tested and verified We will work to ensure that the parks and the visitor facilities are maintained to the highest possible standards. Currently seven of our parks have achieved the Green Flag Award and we will look to retain and add to these awards. Objective 2: Ensure that the biodiversity, heritage and landscape values of the sites are maintained or enhanced KCC’s country parks include examples of Kent’s richest natural heritage, with sites of high biodiversity value, sites within the special landscape of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), as well as sites containing Scheduled Monuments. Of the nine principal parks, one is a National Nature Reserve (and adjacent to internationally important sites), three contain significant of land designated by Natural England as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and three are Local Wildlife Sites. The parks include a selection of some of the highest quality habitats in Kent. The Country Parks team aims to improve visitors’ understanding of the landscape and biodiversity of our sites and carry out appropriate management to conserve and enhance this value further. All principal sites have management plans which consider landscape and biodiversity alongside visitor management, access and our parks’ communities. Objective 3: Support Kent’s Environment Strategy Through the Kent Environment Strategy, Kent County Council is working with partners to protect and enhance our natural and historic environment at the same time as promoting economic growth. The parks will continue to play their part in the collection of Kent’s natural resources and assets and we will use our parks to further the objectives of the Kent Environment Strategy.
5 Strategic aim 2 - Increasing visitor numbers to the country parks particularly at off peak times and among under-represented groups We are confident about the benefits that our parks bring to individuals and communities. There were approximately 1.6 million visits to the country parks in 2015/16, and on average our visitors rated those visits as 9.25 out of 10 (Source - 2016 Visitor Survey). Over the next four years, we would like to increase the numbers of visits to the country parks and to do that we will pursue the following objectives: Objective 4: Work with nurseries, schools, colleges and education providers to provide opportunities to increase awareness, enjoyment and engagement with the environment. Parks are a great place for children, indeed people of all ages, to learn about the world around them, to grow their confidence and develop skills to help them in the wider world. In doing so, we want to grow our already impressive education and volunteering offer with more school visits, a greater number of further education students training and developing vocational skills and playing host to more adult education classes. Objective 5: Work with Public Health, Clinical Commissioning Groups, and NHS providers to ensure the parks maximise their potential to improve health, well- being and quality of life. The physical and mental health benefits of simply being in a park are becoming increasingly well understood. According to NHS Choices physical activity can reduce your risk of heart diseases such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer by up to 50%. The mental health charity Mind say that it can also reduce anxiety and depression and increase self esteem. So we will work with health partners to promote and develop health initiatives in the parks. Objective 6: Ensure that the parks are enjoyed by all sectors of the community, regardless of age, health, race, religion, disability or gender. We will undertake research to understand who uses our parks and then take appropriate action to ensure that visitors to our parks reflect the diverse population of Kent.
Objective 7: Increase visitor numbers outside of peak On a bank holiday in August, our parks are already full with people enjoying all that they have to offer; on a damp and gloomy Tuesday in February it is a very different story! While we understand that there will always be a seasonal element to visitor numbers, we will do what we can to encourage visitors outside of peak times. This will include ensuring that we make best possible use of social media and other communication methods to inspire individuals and families to visit us, as well as reviewing public transport options like bus routes to ensure that people can get to the parks. Our cafes will always be there with a warm mug of coffee to protect against the elements too! Objective 8: Provide high quality volunteering opportunities Our parks already benefit from the thousands of hours of hard work and dedication from our volunteers every year. We really value their input so we will continue to develop our volunteering programmes and ensure that we provide an enjoyable and rewarding experience to people who generously give us their time in a wide variety of roles.