Come along to Maidstone’s Big Day Out

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is inviting everyone to come along and enjoy the County Town of Kent’s amazing parks and open spaces at the first ‘Big Day Out’.

Join the fun on Saturday 14 June 2025 as community organisations, in partnership with Maidstone CAN (Climate Action Network) and supported by MBC, are putting on special open days and activities to celebrate the natural beauty in our borough.

The one-day festival is taking place during the national ‘Great Big Green Week’ and over 30 local groups have come forward to join in the celebrations. From guided walks and cycling routes, to historic houses and fetes, there will be something for everyone on the ‘Big Day Out’, including your furry friends. Over 100 open spaces and activities have been spotlighted on the website, so it is easy to find out what will be happening near you.

As a few examples, Vinters Valley Nature Reserve is hosting a series of nature, wildlife and history walks, and even a teddy bear’s picnic with a ‘Best Dressed Bear’ competition; Fant Nature Reserve will be delivering activities for children and the whole family; and Kent Wildlife Trust is inviting everyone have a go at pond dipping and investigating mini-beasts.

MBC will be running its own ‘Pick in the Park’ event in Mote Park to collect up any stray pieces of litter and see an instant refresh of the area. Come along to the Mote Park Café between 10am and 1pm to find out how you can become a volunteer litter picker and how the Council can help you with equipment and resources.

Cllr Stephen Thompson, MBC Cabinet Member for Healthier Stronger Communities, said: “It is wonderful to see so many groups coming forward to celebrate Maidstone’s first ever ‘Big Day Out’. There are fantastic activities happening across the whole borough, and this is the perfect time to get out and explore everything that Maidstone has to offer. We hope that people in our communities will take the opportunity to appreciate their local green spaces – as well as local food and drink!”

The main organiser behind Maidstone’s ‘Big Day Out’, Richard Conyard, added: 

“Natural beauty is abundant in Maidstone, found from tiny pieces of woodland, the streams and rivers running through the borough, to the majestic vistas from the North Downs and the Greensand Ridge that look far to the horizon.  These are often maintained by hardworking volunteer groups. We hope the Big Day Out will not only be a fun day out for borough residents, but also an opportunity for those groups to showcase their special patch to their local community.”

To find out more about the Maidstone Big Day Out, register your event as part of the day and how to take part please visit the website:  Maidstone's Big Day Out

To discover more about the MBC Parks & Open Spaces, please go to the Council’s webpage: Parks | Maidstone Borough Council