Article
General update
Following the recent winds, we continue to clear away storm damage and debris, so please continue to take care when visiting the parks.
However, the signs of spring are well on the way - some snowdrops, crocuses and cyclamen are out, and some early flowering daffodils have already appeared and are getting set to bloom.
There is now a gate on the main car park, which is closed from 5.30pm until 8am. These hours will change for the summer months. There has also been a gate fitted into the overflow carpark, which will be used when needed.
The café is open for both take away and eat in. It opens from 9am until 3.30pm. The café car park is closed from 4.30pm until 8am.
Kearsney Abbey & Russell Gardens
Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens were awarded The Green Flag Award® last year, the first parks owned and managed by Dover District Council to receive the prestigious recognition.
The flagpole has been fitted and the Green Flag is now flying on the front lawn by the café car park. Leader of the Council, Cllr Trevor Bartlett thanked the dedicated team, including apprentices and local volunteers for helping the Council achieve this prestigious award.
Achieving The Green Flag Award® was one of the aims of the ‘Parks for People’ project with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund. For details, please see our Press Release.
Kearsney Parks 2023 Calendar
The 2022 Kearsney Calendar sold well both online and at the café. We are now looking for photos for the 2023 calendar. If you have any photos that you feel will be suitable, please do sent them in. At the moment, we are looking for photos for February/March and April. In order for us to display these photos, the preferred format is landscape.
Please email them to kearsney.parks@dover.gov.uk
Wildlife
Trout - between November and April, trout spawn in the river. Please keep out of the river during this period so that the trout can be as successful as possible. Trout and trout eggs are very sensitive to disturbances at this time of year, so please observe the river from the banks.
Birds – the kingfisher, egret, heron and grey wagtail can be seen regularly in the Kearsney Parks and in recent weeks a cormorant has been visiting.
Please continue to be aware of the wildlife when you visit, especially during mating season and ensure dogs are on a lead in the designated areas.
Volunteering at Kearsney Parks
Volunteering tasks have started up again in Kearsney Parks.
We are continuing with general maintenance within the parks and on Coxhill Mount. If you are interested in volunteering, and would like to be put on our database, please get in touch at kearsney.parks@dover.gov.uk.
Photography
There are always great opportunities for taking photos in the park, be it with a camera or on your phone.
We are always happy to receive photos taken in the park, so please feel free to send any photos in and we will try and use them not only in our publications, but also in the Kearsney Parks Calendar. Please send them to kearsney.parks@dover.gov.uk
Keep in touch
If you have any comments or questions, please email us on kearsney.parks@dover.gov.uk