Visit Kent Shares the Ultimate Kent Experience

Share some love about Kent – and win the Ultimate Kent Experience!

This is the message Visit Kent is spreading to visitors and residents, as part of a special summer photo competition designed to show off The Garden of England – and the people who love it - to the world.

The destination management organisation, in partnership with Shepherd Neame, is challenging people to share their favourite images and stories of Kent on Facebook for the chance to win the 'ultimate Kent experience'.

One lucky winner will be given the chance to experience the very best of Kent, including an overnight stay at Hever Castle, passes to a host of attractions, a hot air balloon ride, a surfing lesson and a £150 shopping card.

Chief Executive of Visit Kent Sandra Matthews-Marsh MBE said: "Whether you are visiting Kent for the first time or have loved the Garden of England for years – we want to hear #YourKentStory.

"Kent has had a rough ride this summer with the problems caused by Operation Stack, and misleading messages about the county being completely gridlocked.

"We know that thousands of people from across Europe have visited The Garden of England this summer – and many more will do so in the coming weeks to enjoy our award winning beaches, stunning countryside and rich heritage. And we really want to see their holiday snaps and hear the stories behind them!

"Selfies, group photos, and landscape shots are all welcome – the more imaginative, the better. As long as it shows off our beautiful county, we want to see them."

Visitors have the whole summer to send their snaps, and multiple entries are allowed at www.visitkent.co.uk/win

Visit Kent and competition sponsors Shepherd Neame are offering the lucky winner the ultimate Kent experience for two people, including:

• a Spitfire hot air balloon flight
• Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Park Gold Pass (for family 4)
• family ticket for Jet Stream Tours
• £150 gift card for Ashford Designer Outlet
• 1 year pass to all English Heritage properties in Kent
• free entry to Dreamland Margate
• family annual membership for Penshurst Place & Gardens
• entry and 2 nights luxury B&B stay at Hever Castle & gardens
• a Turner Contemporary experience day
• seal watching trip from Ramsgate Royal Harbour
• family annual pass to the Historic Dockyard Chatham
• surf lesson at Joss Bay, Broadstairs
• free cycle hire at Minnis Bay, Birchington

To enter, go to www.visitkent.co.uk/win and submit an image of your favourite place, happy memories, best moment in Kent to the Facebook competition page, using #YourKentStory and explain why the image means so much to you.

Photos posted on social media using #YourKentStory will also be pulled through to the Facebook gallery, but make sure you enter via the competition page as well to be in with the best chance of winning.

The competition closes on Sunday 4th October, and there will be some fantastic runner up prizes as well.

Sandra Matthews-Marsh added: "We have already received some great entries and look forward to seeing many more. It is vital that we all continue to support our wonderful tourism businesses by showing off the real Garden of England and all it has to offer to the world."

Kent has endless attractions to enjoy all year round. Go towww.visitkent.co.uk for inspiration.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Images of Kent are available athttp://www.flickr.com/photos/visitkent/. For further media information, please contact Visit Kent PR Manager Sinead Hanna atSinead.Hanna@visitkent.co.uk or call 01227 812914

August highlights in Kent

• 50th Broadstairs Folk Week
• Jousting at Hever Castle
• Grayson Perry's Provincial Punk at Turner Contemporary
• Summer Knights at Leeds Castle
• Firepower Through The Ages at Dover Castle
• War Games at Historic Dockyard Chatham (on tour from V&A Museum of Childhood)