Canterbury residents angry as tourists trample flowers for perfect photo | UK | News

“Disrespectful” tourists keen to take selfies next to an Instagram hotspot are destroying public flowerbeds, locals say.

Westgate Gardens in Canterbury, Kent, has become a hotspot for photography – but locals say visitors are being disrespectful and trampling on the flowers.

The picturesque gardens are one of the most visited places in Canterbury – after the cathedral, in Tripadvisor’s list of the top 10 things to do in the city. But local Terry Westgate says the near-constant crowds have taken a toll on the park.

He said: “Tourists seem to think they can take these fantastic photos among the flowers, but they show no respect.

“They’ve completely worn the lawn down and they’re now at the point where they’re standing in the flowerbeds to get the perfect photo, but in doing so they’re ruining it for everyone. It’s an absolute tragedy for all of Canterbury.”

The Green Flag award-winning park is visited by tens of thousands of people each year, but Mr Westgate, a former city councillor, believes it is mainly foreign tourists who are to blame.

He added: “I don’t want to single out any particular group, but a lot of the people who are doing this are overseas visitors. They are ruining this area for all of Canterbury. I wonder if they would do it in their own country?”

There are no official rules about where visitors to the garden should or should not stand and Canterbury City Council (CCC) says no fines are issued for trampling on the grass or flowers.

However, residents of homes near Westgate Gardens have put up ‘Keep Off the Grass’ signs in an attempt to discourage damage.

Chris Henry, who runs punting trips along the Stour, believes more could be done to ensure this magnificent site retains its beauty.

He said: “I think for the residents who live here and love the site, particularly those who live in the houses opposite, the damage to the flowerbeds is detrimental to the gardens.

“Flowers are what bring people here in the first place, so maybe that’s a price we have to accept.

“But I think if there was a bigger sign or maybe even a guard in charge of the area around here, this kind of thing could be kept to a minimum.”

A CCC spokesperson said: “We are delighted that the flower displays at Westgate Gardens are so popular and it’s lovely to see photos appearing around the world on Instagram, TikTok and other social media sites.

“It is obviously sad to see some plants damaged, but we believe that this only affects a tiny minority of visitors to the park.

“Most are very respectful of the exhibits and are keen not to cause any problems with the very object they have come to photograph.

“We just ask people to use common sense and be careful, and then everyone can continue to enjoy the park and its flowers.

“We understand residents’ concerns about the damage and will be exploring options for small changes we could make to this area of ​​the park that would protect the flowerbeds while still allowing for these stunning photos to be taken.”