Community action/Swale

The aim of this page is to recognise, celebrate and encourage the self-empowerment of community agency networks (CANs) and community groups' activism for climate, environment and many other sustainability topics across Swale.
News
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Four new councils confirmed for Kent and Medway, BBC News (Jul 16, 2026) — North Kent: Dartford, Gravesham, and Medway; West Kent: Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone, and Tunbridge Wells; Mid Kent: Swale, Ashford, and Folkestone and Hythe; East Kent: Canterbury, Thanet and Dover
Community groups call for locally-owned solar farms in Kent, BBC News (Jul 23, 2025)
New stretch of national coast path opens on island, BBC News (Jun 24, 2025)
Volunteers turn old rail track into walking route, BBC News (Jan 25, 2025)
- Mum's war on plastic waste, Jan 25, 2018...kentonline.co.uk
‘It’s irreplaceable’: Fury over Reform plans to expand quarry in ancient Kent woodland, theguardian.com (Jul 30, 2026)
Four new councils confirmed for Kent and Medway, BBC News (Jul 16, 2026) — North Kent: Dartford, Gravesham, and Medway; West Kent: Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone, and Tunbridge Wells; Mid Kent: Swale, Ashford, and Folkestone and Hythe; East Kent: Canterbury, Thanet and Dover
Hedgerows the 'unsung heroes of the countryside', BBC News (Feb 16, 2026) — A group of Kent volunteers is aiming to provide vital habitat for wildlife by planting about 3,800 yards (3,500m) of hedgerows in the countryside this year.
Why Andy Burnham is right to want for‑profit firms out of social care, theconversation.com (Jul 30, 2026)
‘It’s irreplaceable’: Fury over Reform plans to expand quarry in ancient Kent woodland, theguardian.com (Jul 30, 2026)
More than half of England in drought, Environment Agency declares, BBC News (Jul 29, 2026)
How Australia combines modern tech and Indigenous knowledge to fight wildfires, BBC News (Aug 01, 2026)
May and June heatwaves killed about 2,700 people in England and Wales, data suggests, theguardian.com (Jul 13, 2026) — Extreme heat led to 440 deaths a day during June peak, say scientists, with climate crisis ramping up temperatures
Europe's heatwave linked to 1,300 deaths, WHO says, as Germany hits record 41.7C, BBC News (Jun 28, 2026)
European Central Bank official warns climate crisis poses growing threat to ‘core financial stability’, theguardian.com (Aug 01, 2026)
How Australia combines modern tech and Indigenous knowledge to fight wildfires, BBC News (Aug 01, 2026)
Denmark’s three-day democracy festival that attracts over 65,000, electoral-reform.org.uk (Jul 30, 2026)
Video
[edit | edit source]Networks and sustainability initiatives
[edit | edit source]- Sheppey is Ours!, a Citizens Action Network (CAN) designed to bring the local community together. added 17:01, 14 December 2020 (UTC), link checked 09:46, 30 January 2022 (UTC)
Communities online
[edit | edit source]- Sittingbourne.Me, added 16:17, 21 May 2021 (UTC)
Food
[edit | edit source]Brogdale Farm is home to the National Fruit Collection, one of the largest collections of fruit trees and plants in the world. Spread over 150-acre (61 ha) it hosts the collection since it moved from Wisley in 1952. In the 1980s, the Government cut funding to the site, with closure threatened by March 1990. In response, the Brogdale Horticultural Trust took over co-ownership of the farm with Wye College. It has been the home of Faversham miniature railway since 2001.
The farm runs regular fruit-themed festivals throughout the summer and autumn:
- the Cherry Festival in July
- the Cider Festival in August
- the Apple Festival in October.
During the fairs, visitors can explore the orchards and several experts give talks on the produce.
Community resources
[edit | edit source]Climate action
[edit | edit source]- Swale Friends of the Earth
- Faversham Youth Climate Panel, added 21:31, 18 October 2021 (UTC)
Sustainable transport
[edit | edit source]Maps
- Explore The Isle of Sheppey Walking & Cycling Map, explorekent.org
Cycling
[edit | edit source]National Cycle Route 1 passes through Faversham, en route from Whitstable to Sittingbourne. W
Biodiversity
[edit | edit source]- Sheppey Wildlife on facebook.com
- elmleynaturereserve.co.uk
Environment quality
[edit | edit source]- Plastic Free Faversham, community group run by volunteers with the aim of raising awareness about the overuse of single-use plastic and other ecological issues.
Wetlands
[edit | edit source]The North Kent Marshes have been recognised as one of the most important natural wetlands in northern Europe, and they are monitored by local landowners and wildlife custodians. According to the RSPB, up to 300,000 migrant birds use the mudflats of the Thames marshes as a haven each year in their migratory journeys between the Arctic and Africa. The marshes serve as emergency natural flood protection for London. W
Oare Marshes is a 71.4-hectare (176-acre) Local Nature Reserve north of Faversham in Kent. It is owned and managed by Kent Wildlife Trust. It is part of The Swale Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I, National Nature Reserve, Ramsar internationally important wetland site, Special Protection Area under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds, and Site of Special Scientific Interest.
South Swale is a 410.5-hectare (1,014-acre) Local Nature Reserve (as South Bank of the Swale) north of Faversham in Kent. It is owned by Kent County Council and managed by Kent Wildlife Trust. It is part of The Swale Ramsar site, Special Protection Area and Site of Special Scientific Interest
The Saxon Shore Way public footpath follows the top of the sea wall for the entire length of the reserve, around the village of Graveney, for about 3 miles in total.
Coasts
[edit | edit source]Medway Swale Estuary Partnership
About Swale
[edit | edit source]Campaigns
- Scheme for thousands of new houses near Sittingbourne would have devastating impact on countryside (and it's not even in the Local Plan), cprekent.org.uk, added 15:45, 24 September 2021 (UTC)
Swale is a local government district with borough status in Kent, England. The council is based in Sittingbourne, the borough's largest town. The borough also contains the towns of Faversham, Queenborough and Sheerness, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. It includes the Isle of Sheppey and is named after The Swale, the narrow channel which separates Sheppey from the mainland part of the borough. Some southern parts of the borough lie within the Kent Downs, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The borough borders the Medway unitary authority area to the west, the Borough of Maidstone to the south-west, the Borough of Ashford to the south-east, and the City of Canterbury to the east. Under proposed reorganisation in April 2028 the borough will be abolished and will join with Ashford Borough Council and Folkestone and Hythe District Council to form a new Mid Kent Unitary Authority. Elections to form a new shadow authority will be held in April 2027.
Near you
[edit | edit source]Ashford - Canterbury - Maidstone - Medway
See also
[edit | edit source]- Towards a more democratic and climate friendly way of meeting housing need across England
- London and South East England
- Saving water in South East England
| Authors | Phil Green |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Cite as | Philralph (2022–2025). "Community action/Swale". Appropedia. Retrieved August 4, 2026. |
