has to offer. This four Contents year strategy sets out how we intend to protect and manage these natural environments at the same time as providing high quality 1 Foreword 3 opportunities 2 The Country Parks’ 4 for individuals, families and communities to play, and relax in contribution to wider these environments. outcomes 3 Vision and strategic aims 5 Every day, our parks are home to: 4 Providing a network 6 Walkers keeping fit in all weathers • of high quality and Children learning to engage with nature • biodiverse country parks Families relishing spending quality time together • 5 Increasing visitor numbers 8 Runners delighting in the landscape • to the country parks Horse riders and cyclists savouring the traffic free rides • 6 Ensuring the service is Local businesses blue sky thinking in our meeting rooms • financially self-sustaining People enjoying the and tranquility • as possible A wide variety of plants and wildlife • 7 Delivery and performance 11 management Over the period of the last strategy (2014-17), KCC’s Country Appendix. The Country 12 Parks team have maintained high customer satisfaction ratings and Parks’ contribution to wider outcomes achieved Green Flag awards for seven of our parks, despite unprecedented budget pressures. We have been able to reduce 1 Foreword 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 Kent County Council and sale of coppiced timber, and other innovative schemes. All the (KCC) is privileged to money spent in the parks, is reinvested directly back into the parks. own and manage a of country parks and We are proud of our country parks, and we are equally proud of countryside sites which the difference they have made to individuals and communities contain some of the across Kent in recent years. The financial pressures are not likely highest quality natural to diminish in 2017 - habitats and 2021, but neither will our commitment to continue to provide inspirational landscapes that Kent parks for all to enjoy. 3
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
Country_Parks_Strategy_Consultation_Version.docx