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Maidstone’s ever-popular Mote Park has once more been selected among the UK’s most popular parks and open spaces, being named in the ten most-loved spaces at the Green Flag People’s Choice Awards. More than 30,000 votes were cast over the last month for a diverse array of public parks throughout the UK, with Mote Park’s popularity among residents and visitors ensuring its position among this auspicious selection.

Organised by the Green Flag Award scheme, the People’s Choice category recognises those green spaces in the UK that are foremost in the popularity of public users. Parks throughout the UK were subsequently provided with a voting page for visitors to show their appreciation of the cleanliness, facilities, events, and overall appeal of the park. In years past, Mote Park has enjoyed the prestige of being named among the UK’s top three; however, in 2016, accolades were awarded – in no particular order – for the ten most popular venues.

“Mote Park truly represents one of the finest and most popular attractions in the borough of Maidstone,” said Councillor David Pickett of Maidstone Borough Council. “Thanks in no small part to the range of events and activities hosted throughout the year, plus the magnificent maintenance work and the efforts of volunteers at the park, we’re exceptionally proud that Mote Park has been named among the UK’s ten most popular public spaces.

“It can be easy to take for granted just how important Mote Park is to Maidstone. Whether it’s for those looking to experience nature and wide-open spaces, to picnic with the family or enjoy the water sports, or even to welcome internationally acclaimed events and concerts, Mote Park represents all that is great about the borough.”

Mote Park, Maidstone wins prestigious award

Full list of winners

Park Name	Managing Organisation
Alexandra Palace Park	Alexandra Palace Charitable Trust
Arlington Square Gardens	Arlington Association
Clifton Park	Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Elsecar Park and Local Reservoir Nature Reserve	Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Margam Park	Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
Millennium Country Park	Forest of Marston Vale Trust
Mote Park	Maidstone Borough Council
Strathaven Park	South Lanarkshire Council
Victoria Park (Tower Hamlets)	London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Warley Woods	Warley Woods Community Trust

International Green Flag Award Manager Paul Todd said: “We would like to congratulate Mote Park on being voted one of the UK’s ten favourite parks – it is quite an achievement.

“The Green Flag Awards are judged every year by an army of more than 800 volunteer judges, but the People’s Choice is the public’s opportunity to vote for their favourite parks and it is wonderful that more than 30,000 people have done just that this year as the scheme celebrates its 20th Anniversary.

“Winning a Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work of local authorities and the managers of public green space up and down the country along with hundreds of thousands of volunteers. More than 1,700 parks this year are flying the Green Flag Award and the People’s Choice Award shows them just how much that hard work is appreciated by the public.

“The People’s Choice Award also shows that communities value all their green space, not just traditional parks.”

In addition to offering an environment in which to unwind among stunning natural scenery, Mote Park also provides a host of activities and entertainment for all ages. From an all-weather play area to water sports facilities, and annual events such as charity fun runs, music festivals, nature trails and more, the extent of offerings from Mote Park guarantees that its place among Maidstone’s most popular attractions is assured.

UPDATE: FINAL LINE UP ANNOUNCEMENT

We're delighted to announce that the final performers set to appear at Ramblin' Man Fair 2016 have been named. With the stellar line up already including Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, and Black Stone Cherry, the final bands set to appear have been revealed to be:

Warren Haynes

Grammy Award-winning artist Warren Haynes has been recognised as a cornerstone of the American music landscape and revered as one of the finest guitar players in the world. Throughout his prolific career as part of three of the greatest live groups in rock history – Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule and the Dead – his artistry has led to thousands of unforgettable performances and millions of album and track sales.

The Supersuckers

One of the few outfits that can call itself 'The World’s Greatest Rock ’n’ Roll Band!' and actually get away with it, the Supersuckers eat Marshall stacks and cowboy hats and play high-volume Motörheading country music and Willie Nelsoning garage-punk better than virtually anyone else, ever.

Tax The Heat

2015 was intense for Bristol’s Tax The Heat. Following the release of two critically acclaimed singles 'Fed To The Lions' and 'Highway Home', the band has cemented its live reputation by supporting the likes of Cadillac 3, Reef, The Graveltones, Black Star Riders, Masters Of Reality, The Virginmarys and Thunder. The band’s unique blend of classic blues driven rock with a modern alternative twist is set to continue winning them a legion of fans throughout 2016.

SIMO

Nashville-based improvisational trio SIMO will be bringing its invigorating blues, psychedelic Brit Invasion, and countrified Southern-rock manifestations to Ramblin’ Man Fair 2016.

Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural Ramblin' Man Fair 2015 in Maidstone's popular Mote Park, this fantastic celebration of classic rock is returning to the borough on July 23/24, 2016. The festival, which is anticipated to attract more than 12,000 visitors each day, will feature a vast selection of iconic bands, with none more acclaimed than the Ramblin' Man Fair 2016 headliners, Whitesnake.

The legendary rock’n’roll band founded and formed by Deep Purple singer David Coverdale is set to headline the festival as part of its 2016 'The Greatest Hits Tour', performing some of the biggest hits from Slide It In, Whitesnake and Slip Of The Tongue records. "We are truly excited and looking forward to playing at the Ramblin' Man Fair in 2016 on what will be our 'Greatest Hits World Tour' and most likely my personal 'Farewell to Arena Rock' after over 40 years of writing and performing rock music," said Coverdale. "As I write this we are finishing our incredibly successful touring cycle of 2015. Co-headlining a monster UK tour with Def Leppard, releasing our tribute to Deep Purple Mark 3 & 4, Whitesnake The Purple Album, and touring this incredible world, I look back on an amazing, memorable journey of four decades of fun performing for millions of people. Whitesnake is singularly honoured to headline The Ramblin' Man Fair, looking forward to some British fun in the sun... see you in 2016!"

In addition to the announcement that Whitesnake will headline, a number of additional acts have been announced as part of the Ramblin' Man Fair 2016 line-up.

Further Main Stage Announcements

Europe
Ginger Wildheart

Prog Stage

Procol Harum – Headliner
Uriah Heep – Special Guests
Hawkwind – Special Guests
Life Signs

Country Stage

Hayseed Dixie – Headliner

Blues Stage

Walter Trout – Special Guest
King King

Tickets are already on sale for Ramblin' Man Fair 2016, with weekend admission prices from £130, and weekend VIP from £225. For more information on Ramblin' Man Fair 2016 on the Visit Maidstone website.

Autumn in the UK may not be renowned for offering fantastic weather but, as the sun shone down on a delightful October morning, hundreds of people – and a number of wagging tails – descended on Mote Park to take part in the RSPCA Big Walkies event. We ourselves had decided to enter our own dog to take part, raising money to support the fantastic work carried out by the Leybourne RSPCA Animal Centre in West Malling. It was a great cause and a great opportunity to stretch our legs and meet with other pet owners from around the local area.

Before I continue, I should probably mention that our dog is a pug. Not just any pug. Arguably the most easily distracted, untrainable and – dare I say it – stupidest pug to walk the Earth. This is an animal that once ate a whole dinner candle, spends her days barking at her reflection in any shiny surface, and has gone headfirst into patio doors on more than one occasion. (Basically, if we were quicker with a video camera, we could be making a fortune from You’ve Been Framed.)

Anyway, here we were, surrounded by dozens upon dozens of better-behaved creatures, each piquing her interest and causing her to bound right, left, and centre. It was going to be an effort to complete the three-kilometre walk, taking in the lake, passing the boat house, and shepherding her away from the ducks and swans. The potential for mayhem was all-too real and all these other dogs were putting us to shame.

Still, we made it to the check-in section nice and early, got the dog dressed in her complementary bandana, and grabbed ourselves a coffee (it was a Sunday morning, lest we forget). It was great seeing so many people from around Maidstone supporting such a worthwhile cause, and we had the chance to meet a range of varied dog breeds… some of which we’d never even seen before. Our own pug, meanwhile, wasn’t shy from introducing herself, despite the reservations of others (see the fear in the eyes below!).

As we made our way around the course, we had the chance to experience the autumnal charm of the park. Talk of the changing hues of nature may often seem fantastical and elaborate, but the spectrum of colours on display really was enchanting. It’s easy to overlook just how fortunate we are to have such a magnificent area to discover in the centre of Maidstone. And, with Mote Park hosting a diverse selection of activities – ranging from the leisure centre to music festivals – there is something for everyone… dogs included.

It did take us far too long to complete the course, mainly due to the dog having to stop and introduce herself to everyone – and I mean everyone – and it didn’t take much for us to fall to the back of the group. That said, we finally crossed the finish line and were handed a rosette and goody bag for the dog (and, as the saying goes, “All we got was this t-shirt”). It was a great day out made all the better by the sunny weather, and we hope that the money raised does much to support the RSPCA in its valuable work.

About the author

Michael is a member of the marketing team at Visit Maidstone and is an experienced writer. He has a passion for history and cinema, and likes nothing more than combining the two. View more by Michael.

The Social Festival at Mote Park promises to be a lively and unforgettable celebration of the world’s greatest dance acts, bringing a taste of the Ibiza nightlife to the beautiful surroundings of this glorious and popular park in Maidstone.

Having hosted such major events as the Radio 1 Big Weekend and the recent Ramblin Man Fair, Mote Park is quickly becoming a location of choice for events promoters to host their events. With the arrival of The Social Festival on September 12, music fans from across the UK and Europe are expected to descend on the town and join the party atmosphere.

Arranged by Saved Records - the independent music label of Maidstone-based house and techno DJ Nic Fanciulli - the event is looking to share the love and passion for dance music with the local community. In addition, the festival will feature an emphasis on locally produced foods, with nearby companies and universities providing creative aspects of the festival. There will even be funfair rides and market stalls for customers to enjoy.

The Social Festival lineup

The line up includes:

• Nic Fanciulli
• Tom Trago
• Die Vogel
• Jackmaster
• Jamie Jones
• DJ Koze

The Social Festival After Party

In addition to the magnificent line up, an exclusive Social Festival after party late into the early hours of the morning is scheduled to take place at Maidstone's own Source Bar. DJ’s Cassy, Jackmaster, Nic Fanciulli and Seth Troxler will be joined by a yet to be announced special guest to round off the festival's activities. With a capacity of just 1,000 people, this post-festival event is guaranteed to sell out.

Accommodation in Maidstone

A number of hotels are within easy reach of Mote Park, providing parking and much-needed accommodation following the event. Among the accommodation in Maidstone available are:

• The Hilton Hotel
• The Village Hotel
• Travelodge Maidstone
• Premier Inn Maidstone
• The White Rabbit Maidstone

Directions to Mote Park

Travel to The Social Festival in Mote Park is simple, regardless of how you plan to travel. Use the map below to plan your journey to the park.

Mote Park was fortunate enough to welcome the magnificent Ramblin Man Fair to the borough on the weekend of July 25/26, 2015. The event, which brought together some of the biggest names in classic rock, attracted thousands of festival-goers among the glorious surroundings of this popular park. And, even though the weather was not as sunny and warm as one might hope for a weekend in July, spirits were by no means dampened.

We managed to capture a few snaps from the weekend's events - including Saxon, Dream Theater, and more - but it was simply fantastic to see so many visitors to Maidstone join the residents in this wonderful event.

Whether Ramblin Man Fair will return to Mote Park in the future awaits to be seen, but with such fantastic organisation and the presence of so many happy music fans, it would be a shame for the event not to become a regular occurrence.

About the author

We were fortunate enough to take some time out of the office and take a wander down to Mote Park earlier this week. As we took a stroll around, the sun shone brightly - no matter how fleetingly - in a blue sky, transforming the green fields and diverse flora into magnificent, colourful vistas. And, while our photographic skills may not be the best around, we were able to capture a few snaps of the Mote Park scenery.

Sometimes it takes something as simple as a few photographs to remind us of just how fortunate we are in Maidstone to have such an area like Mote Park available to us all. Whether it's for a summer picnic or watersports on the lake, live music festivals to a gentle walk with the dog, Mote Park is the perfect destination to discover.

To celebrate just how significant Mote Park is to residents and tourists, we decided to provide five reasons why you should never fail to miss Mote Park on a visit to Maidstone.

1. The scenery

From the flora that thrives throughout the spring and summer, to autumnal colours and winter snow, the scenery throughout Mote Park is beyond compare anywhere in the borough. Creating the perfect environment in which to relax and unwind, to tuck into a delicious picnic or to walk the dog, the scenery of Mote Park speaks for itself and will prove enticing to residents and visitors alike.

2. Watersports

For something a little different when visiting Mote Park, a selection of watersports - such as sailing, kayaking, canoeing, raft building, and more - are all available. You may even choose to take to a pedalo swan with the entire family and explore the lakes and lakeside flora that is abundant throughout summer. With Mote Park Water Sports Centre located on site, there is no shortage of exciting watersports activites to enjoy.

3. History

It may often go overlooked, but the history of Mote Park is both rich and intriguing. Originally the main water source for an ancient Roman villa, more recent years saw the region house a magnificent country estate, with Mote Park House the focal point for development. Today, the entire estate is open to the public, and represents one of the finest areas to discover across the Maidstone borough, with visitors fascinated by the history and heritage present in the park.

4. Events

The calendar of events happening in Mote Park changes from year to year, with an eclectic selection of activities taking place around the year. One of this summer's most exciting events, for example, was the Ramblin Man Fair. Featuring a number of the most recognisable names from the world of classic rock, thousands upon thousands of fans descended on Mote Park for a weekend of live music and entertainment.

5. Universal appeal

Perhaps the finest reason to visit Mote Park is the simple fact that it offers something for everyone. From the children's play area to the watersports facilities, wide open spaces in which to soak up the summer sun to a skateboarding park for the young and adventurous, Mote Park provides a little bit of something for everyone. Best of all, it's entirely free to enter. What more could anybody want?