FAVERSHAM CREEK TRUST REGENERATING FAVERSHAM’S MARITIME HERITAGE

Company was formed as a Community A HISTORIC DAY Interest Company to manage this; even FIDELITY BACKS so, while it must recover its expenses, AT THE BASIN these will be considerably less than a THE TRUST commercial dredging contractor that For the first time in 25 years, there’s would cost tens of thousands of This respected charity backs projects a working boat in the Basin. On 11th pounds more. that train young people. They liked February, in cooperation with Peel The Navigation Co has licenses for the idea of our shipwrights training Ports, a small dredger was taken in the Creek and the Basin. The latter scheme. With the support of the Kent under the bridge. The wheel house had took 16 months to obtain and cost Communities Fund they have given to be removed to get the boat through; almost £20,000. Swale Borough Council us £20,000 to open the bridge and the that was then reinstalled at Morrisons agreed to fund this, on top of their basin for boats to reach the training Wharf. The dredger is privately owned contribution towards the Swing Bridge. workshop in the Purifier Building. and the brainchild of Eric Green and The work will be carried out over Thanks, Fidelity. Bob Berk in response to Peel Ports’ the next two years, and should be failure to invest in the creek due to lack completed by the time the new swing of financial return. bridge is installed in 2018. Due to the The first task is to remove the mud conditions of the licence, to protect immediately behind the gates and nesting birds for example, the current reveal whatever is jamming one of work will cease at the end of March and them. When that one is fully open it restart in September. will be possible to bring in another It is a major achievement to access bigger dredger. the Basin and make a start on its Stringent procedures were introduced restoration. The Trust congratulates and nationally in 2014 for licensing dredging, supports everyone involved and we look so the Faversham Creek Navigation forward to watching their progress. The Faversham Creek Navigation Company at work NEW MP VISITS TRUST

Faversham’s new MP Helen Whately visited the Trust on 11 December 2015 and said she was very impressed and supportive of our project. She said “The creek has enormous potential and I’ll be supporting the Trust in its campaign to regenerate it to the benefit of the local economy and community.” Seen here with our Chairman Sue Akhurst, Gulliver Immink and Simon Foster.

MP Helen Whately visits the Creek

NEWSLETTER 10 SPRING 2016 DIARY DATES CHAIRMAN’S REPORT As we go to press, we have the following 2015 was a hectic year for the Shipwrights CIC as they recruit dates for your diary. If you would like to Trust, fundraising for Swing the more apprentices and develop volunteer at any of these events - and Bridge, making the Purifier ready their training courses. We are also we need help! - please contact for the Shipwrights’ Apprenticeship working with our three councils Claire Mason on 07769 223925 or Scheme and supporting our (Kent, Swale and Faversham) on [email protected] partners, the Brents Community the Bridge Steering Group and Association, with the Creek Technical Group, and with 7 March - FILM The Gunpowder Learning Project. the Rotary Club of Faversham Explosion of 1916 and the BCA on the Nautical Fleur Hall 2pm We will build on this work in 2016, Festival. We will build relationships 11 April - Peter Kennett with slides working with the Faversham Creek with local schools and voluntary of old Faversham Navigation Company CIC as they organisations in the area, and will Fleur Hall 7.30pm begin dredging the Basin, helping work to encourage more people to 22 April - Music from Twist City and the BCA to develop their courses use the Creek and Basin for sailing Mainsqueeze Purifier Building for long term unemployed and and rowing small boats - the 7.30pm - see FCT website other disadvantaged people, and Dinghy Race on Sunday 5th June 25 April - Conrad Broadley on supporting Faversham is just the start! restoring creeks along the Thames Purifier Building, 7.30pm Barges at the 19 May - Chris Wright, Space, Time 2015 Thames and Faversham Creek. Match Fleur Hall, 7.30pm 5 June - Dinghy Race Creek Basin July - first 3 Saturdays Open House Scheme & Pop-Up Café at the Purifier Building CREEK PLAN 23/24 July - Nautical Festival Town Quay and Front Brents Faversham Creek Neighbourhood Plan. 3/4 September - Hop Festival - We have just been advised by Swale Pop-up café, stall in Abbey Street Borough Council that the report from 23 September - Creek Trust the Independent Examiner, Mr Timothy Barn Dance Venue TBA Jones, is now expected in mid March. 15/16 and 22/23 October This will be six months after the Hearing Artists Open Studio rather than the anticipated six weeks. Purifier Building 25 November - Creek Trust AGM Alexander Centre USEFUL GIFT 2 December - Members’ Social with Carols Local fisherman Blue Walpole has Purifier Building donated a fine dinghy to the Trust, for use in the Basin. Volunteers helped restore her to a safe and shipshape condition, and she’s already started work helping clear rubbish from the moorings. The sparkling clean restored dinghy For Membership and Contact forms etc and for update and further information go to the website. A GUN IN THE www.favershamcreektrust.com MUD!

A gun found by Trust volunteers in the mud near the Purifier Building has been handed to the police. The pistol came to light while volunteers were clearing debris from the moorings behind Morrisons supermarket. The event was captured by Conrad Broadley who was visiting that day from the Northfleet, Dartford and Crayford Creek restoration Faversham Creek Trust projects. He will be one of the speakers The Purifier Building, Morrisons Wharf, in the Trust’s talk series this spring. The North Lane, Faversham, volunteers have so far pulled out over Kent ME13 7DY www.favershamcreektrust.com 1000 paving bricks which could damage Gun toting mud larks and the now rather muddier the hulls of vessels at low tide. dinghy which is berthed alongside the Purifier Charity Number 1146660 • Company Number 7667130