Marvellous Murals - for all kinds of murals

There are some very exciting plans in place to completely redevelop Milton Creek and the surrounding area and turn it into a country park.  I have just been to see the first stage plans on which work will start this year and they have some good ideas for the area, including an ampitheatre for small concerts and natural play areas for the children.  Emphasis seems to be on enhancing the natural beauty and hopefully will include some form of land art and community based art projects which will blend with the landscape rather than overpower it.  There is also scope to draw on the rich history of the area.

Milton Creek is a shallow tidal inlet which runs north-east from Sittingbourne to join the Swale at Elmley Reach. The settlement of Milton Regis, at the head of the Creek, predates Sittingbourne town centre. The area has a rich heritage dating from at least Saxon times, with thriving medieval markets and communities. Large scale growth in the nineteenth century saw the Creek become a focus for brickworks, barge building, paper making and cement works. The Creek was critical to the development of this industrial core as barges used it to transport paper and bricks away from Sittingbourne and bring waste (mostly from London) to fill the clay pits at the brickworks.

In a bid to become more involved in the project I have joined 'The Friends of Milton Creek'.  The Friends of Milton Creek are a group of local people with a keen interest in conserving and developing the area around Milton Creek. The group was originally formed as the Friends of Church Marshes Country Park when the development of the Church Marshes Country Park began but has now grown to encompass the entire area around Milton Creek beyond the Park boundaries.

The Friends Group offers an opportunity to get involved in the development of the Park and to become involved in conservation and volunteering opportunities. In the past few years the group has been involved in tree planting, arranged nature walks and organised free community events in the Park. Now that the landscaping phase of Milton Creek Gateway Landscape is beginning the group hope to become increasingly involved in volunteering opportunities within the Park. As the Park nears completion we will be looking to arrange a range of public events in the Park as well as carrying out ongoing conservation work in and around the Park.

The Group is free to join and open to anyone with an interest in the joining regardless of age or experience. We are always happy for people to come along to meetings or volunteering opportunities. If you are interested in joining or simply want to know about volunteering opportunities email us at chris@miltoncreek.co.uk or call on 01795 599975 (evenings and weekends only).