Friends of Victoria Park

Friends of Victoria Park Protect and conserve the ecology and wildlife of the park. Membership

The Friends has an open membership. There is no membership subscription.

The Friends of Victoria Park is a group of Ashford residents who believe that Victoria Park and Watercress Fields are a community resource that should be available for all, a place of recreation and enjoyment for the benefit of the people of Ashford Our aims are to:
- Protect, conserve and enhance Victoria Park as a place of freedom, recreation and enjoyment for the long-term benefit of the people

of Ashford;
- To develop and propose ideas and suggestions to Ashford Borough Council and any relevant organisation in accordance with the paragraph above;
- To seek the community’s suggestions in addition to the Group’s own opinions on any works to improve or change Victoria Park;
- To promote the use of the park and its attributes within Ashford and beyond. The area to which the Group’s aims refer is the whole of the formal park together with Watercress Fields (as shown on the plan above). Any person interested in seeing the aims of the Group achieved can join by registering online or by attending one of our meetings. At least four meetings are held each year. Notice of meetings is sent to all registered members, announced on the front page of our website and on our page and is posted on noticeboards in the Park. History

The Group was formed in March 2018, during the Development Stage of the Victoria Park Improvement Programme, to meet the requirement to consult and involve the community. During the initial months the group meetings were facilitated by a consultant employed by Ashford Borough Council and were used to develop the aims of the group, leading to the adoption of a Constitution, and to support the consultation relating to the Improvement Plan. The first fully independent meeting was held in November 2018

It may be a drab morning but seeing a few violets and daffodils in the park helps to make the day a bit brighter, especi...
08/03/2026

It may be a drab morning but seeing a few violets and daffodils in the park helps to make the day a bit brighter, especially when you add in a clump of snowdrops, even if they're almost done now 🪻

07/03/2026

🌿 Our volunteer days are a great way to make new friends, get some exercise in the fresh air and enjoy nature 🌞🤝

🌳 This month’s session takes place on Thursday 19 March from 9.30am to 3pm. It will be a little different to our usual days as we learn all about traditional coppicing techniques with our guest trainer, Michael White, in the Woodland Walk 🍃🪵 He’ll explain how coppices are created, the best species to use, how to manage them, their benefits to nature 🐦🌱 and more!

📧 Places are limited, so you MUST book your spot by emailing [email protected] by Friday 6 March ⏰✅

👖🧥 What to wear & bring:

Please wear long trousers, long sleeves and warm layers if the weather is chilly ❄️
🧤 Gloves are provided, but you may prefer to bring your own.
🥤 Please bring a drink and lunch if you’re staying for the whole day.
💪 Activity level: moderate to heavy

🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️ Interested in becoming a volunteer?

If you’d like to join our friendly team at any of our sessions, you just need to be over 18 and have completed our short online form 🔗 (link in the comments).

07/03/2026

🌿 Want to meet new people, enjoy nature and improve your health and wellbeing? 🌿

If so, join one of our new monthly Green Walks – they’re free! 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️

Our walks will vary in length and ability, with our first walk taking place in Victoria Park, enjoying its beautiful scenery 🌳🌼 — including the River Stour, sensory garden, woodland and seasonal wetland 🌊🍃

📅Monday 13 April
⏰ 10am
📍 Meet outside Harper's Cafe ☕

This easy, 30‑minute circular walk is suitable for anyone with some level of fitness and no mobility difficulties ✅

We’ll return to Harper’s Café so you can continue socialising and enjoy a refreshment if you wish ☕💬

👟 Simply turn up 10 minutes before the start, and wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear 🧥

🔗 For more details on the walk and suitability, click the link in the comments!

And finally the presentation of our gold award!
07/03/2026

And finally the presentation of our gold award!

Waiting for the Kent Wildlife Trust Wilder Kent Awards to start here at Chapel House, Ramsgate
07/03/2026

Waiting for the Kent Wildlife Trust Wilder Kent Awards to start here at Chapel House, Ramsgate

02/03/2026

Date for your diary

Open Morning

March 28
10 am - 1 pm

14/02/2026
Woohoo, we won! 🏅🎉
14/02/2026

Woohoo, we won! 🏅🎉

14/02/2026

Wondering what is all about? We’ve got you covered 🤝

Are plastic bags recyclable in Kent?
🛒 Not from your home recycling collections! Please head to the supermarket to recycle or replace your bags for life.

Can I still use bin bags in my rubbish bin?
👍 Bin bags can still be used in your rubbish bins. General waste is processed differently where we recover some energy from the materials, and items don't need to be separated like recycling does.

Can I collect my recycling in plastic bags?
✅ If you prefer to collect your recycling in a bag indoors, just empty items into the outside bin loose - shake that bag out!

Why can’t I put bags in my recycling bin?
❌ Soft plastics and bags get tangled in sorting machines, slow the process down, and can cause damage to the machinery.

This is why we’re asking Kent to : tip your recyclables into your mixed recycling bin empty, rinsed and loose ♻️✨

If you don’t have a recycling bin, please continue to empty items loose into the recycling sack provided.

Find out more at www.kent.gov.uk/shakeitout

Address

Ashford

Website

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About us

The Friends of Victoria Park is a group of Ashford residents who believe that Victoria Park and Watercress Fields are a community resource that should be available for all.

Our aims are to:


  • 📷Protect, conserve and enhance Victoria Park as a place of freedom, recreation and enjoyment for the long-term benefit of the people of Ashford;