Background

Herne Bay is a coastal town with a population of approximately 39,000 and is situated some nine miles from the historic and World Heritage city of Canterbury. Herne Bay also includes the historic village of Herne which is a growing area with new communities at Broomfield, Beltinge, Reculver, Greenhill and Eddington.

The area offers a good quality of life with plenty of leisure and recreational opportunities, pleasant housing areas, and easy access to striking coastal and countryside locations. Horticulture and landscape provide the setting and character for the area.

The Herne Bay area has a rich and diverse range of natural and semi natural habitats. From the coastal parkland areas of the Downs and Reculver Country Park, to nature reserves at Herne, natural burial areas and allotment sites where green gardening is widely practiced. The city council also plays its part by reviewing and adapting the ways to delivers its services to ensure that it reduces its impact on the environment, and it is in better condition for future generations.

Local geology

People associate Kent’s coast with white cliffs. However, Herne Bay’s natural coast is significantly different. To the west of the town are mud flats and sand bars, and to the east are grass downland on underlying clays. At Bishopstone Glen examples of sedimentary bedding deposits can be found which are rich in fossils. The underlying geology determines the range of habitat that can be supported, and in turn these varied habitats support a wide range of native and visiting birds.

The coastline is constantly moving, and a petrified forest has recently been discovered to the west of Herne Bay at Tankerton, and clear evidence of movement can be seen at Reculver. The Downs supports extensive geotechnical works that act as soil stabilisation and protection against erosion. The In Bloom committee is producing a set of interpretation panels to be located at various locations along the cliff tops.

With its beautiful seafront flowerbeds, and lovely parks, Herne Bay is frequently quoted on BBC radio as one of the sunniest towns in Britain. In 2009, Herne Bay won a silver gilt award in the regional South and South East ln Bloom Coastal category and a silver award in Britain in Bloom.