A marshland beauty spot which was once a landfill site has won an award for its environmental work.

Milton Creek Country Park, in Sittingbourne, has been issued a gold award by the South and South East in Bloom (SSEIB) awards for the ninth year in a row.

The Swale council-owned green space now offers 128 acres of meadows, scrubs, and aquatic habitats for people to enjoy and explore.

It is home to hundreds of animal species, including the Shrill Carder Bee, which is extremely rare and of national and international importance.

A large natural play area, a community events space, and an extensive network of walking and running paths are also at the park.

The SSEIB awards not only recognise these areas’ beautiful flower beds and displays but also the efforts being made to protect and enhance their natural environment.

Cllr Rich Lehmann, chairman of the environment committee, said: “It’s so great to see a site that was once used for landfill transformed into a beautiful green open space that hosts a huge variety of wildlife.

“Milton Creek Country Park deserves these plaudits as our officers and the committed volunteers work hard to make the park an amazing place for people to enjoy our local nature.

“Congratulations to all the other entrants too. Our In Bloom towns, villages, and gardens are a massive asset to us and can rival anywhere else in the country.

“I am sure we will be receiving these awards for many years to come, and we as a council are committed to protecting these green spaces and enhancing biodiversity across the borough.”

The other places that were awarded in the borough include Faversham in Bloom, which won gold, Queenborough and Rushenden in Bloom, which won the silver gilt, Teynham in Bloom, which won silver and the Belmont House and Garden, Faversham, which won gold.

In the It’s Your Neighbourhood category Abel’s Acre, Middle Row and Millfield Allotment Association, all in Faversham, were graded “outstanding”.

Faversham Abbey Precinct Gardening Group and Faversham Almshouses were marked as “thriving”.

Bob Fowler Memorial Allotments in Milton Regis were graded as “advancing”, while the Abbey Physic Community Garden, Faversham, and the Milton Regis Society, Sittingbourne, were rated “improving”.