News

KENT STILL GARDEN OF ENGLAND DESPITE POLL

Leeds Castle

Kent will still be regarded as the number one "Garden of England" despite a spot poll by a satellite TV channel voting North Yorkshire to the title.

That was the reaction of Kent County Council Leader Paul Carter to news of the survey by the UKTV Style Gardens Channel.

"Kent has held the title for hundreds of years going back to the days when the county first supplied the food and drink for London. Seventy per cent of the county is still agricultural land and with outstanding gardens like Sissinghurst and the 'most beautiful castle in the world' at Leeds, Kent has the track record to maintain the title," Said Mr Carter.

Kent residents have very high satisfaction levels with the county as a place to live and make the most of a fantastic location between capital and continent - something not shared by North Yorkshire.

Kent is the only county in the south east in the top five favourite counties, according to the poll.

"In some ways the survey is a bit of fun. On the serious side, the government's drive to build more and more houses in the south east is a major challenge and probably responsible for some of the vote. We are, none the less, striving very hard to make Kent an even greater place to live and work and a vital part of that aim is protection of Kent's unique environment," said Mr Carter.