CT5 Socials
Voice for Whitstable
About Whitstable Eco Group
The CT5 People’s Forum Eco Group recognises the need to help establish a local response to the global ecological emergency that is apparent in multiple ways: lack of bio-diversity; climate chaos; plastic refuse; air and sea pollution; soil degradation; mass human migration.
In the local context, the CT5 Eco Forum comprises a group of enthusiastic local volunteers with specialisms and interests in a wide range of areas such as: animal wildlife; trees; environmental politics; permaculture; human adaptation; natural habitats.
CT5 People's Forum Eco group is developing local responses focusing on these key areas:
Sea pollution
Tree care and development
Landuse (the built environment, rewilding and wildlife habitats)
Traffic
Air pollution
Permaculture
Reduction in plastic use
Sustainable energy
The Eco Group seeks to build a hub to help all groups and individuals in the CT5 area that are involved in ecological development become better connected, build momentum and increase local community participation. In addition, the Eco Group seeks to provide outreach to the local community. The Eco Group feeds into the CT5 People’s Forum and is one of its core groups (alongside traffic and town council). The CT5 People’s Forum provides a regular platform for this group to communicate with the broader group about our activities.
The Eco Group believes it is important to celebrate the natural world in Whitstable in all its amazing diversity and to help do this it organises an annual eco week (Wild about Whitstable) in which the local issues, with local community involvement, are highlighted through a range of educational and fun activities, workshops and events.
Latest Eco Initiatives & Projects
Keep up to date will all our environmental news, events and projects in our articles below
Proposed Projects 2025
Our four aims for 2025 are to work within our local community to:
- Increase the awareness of the importance of nature eg its interconnectedness, beauty and regenerative spirit
- Identify ways biodiversity can be maintained and enhanced
- Identify ways that CO2 emissions can be reduced
- Build local community resilience in the face of a changing world eg opportunities for share and repair, greater access to resources and information flow
Monthly Wild about Whitstable programme
Delivering a monthly programme of walks, talks and an Eco Fair in partnership with the Horsebridge Centre, Plastic Free Whitstable, Herne Bay Museum, Thames Barge Greta, Whitstable Castle, Whitstable Tree Wardens, Eco Fair team, Andy Taylor
Supporting the protection and management of open spaces
Working in partnership with local Friends Groups, Canterbury City Council, Whitstable Tree Wardens, Kent County Council to promote a community-led, biodiversity-first approach to management of open spaces in CT5, including the right to grow and appropriate planting of trees; provide a ‘how to guide’
Reducing local carbon emissions
In partnership with CT5 PF Traffic Group, CCC/KCC, Kent Community Energy, Whitstable Tree Wardens, Circular Kitchens (reducing carbon from our food system), Whitstable Maritime to identify ways that carbon emissions can be reduced locally (through reduction in energy use and carbon capture/local-ecological farming); to create and share a database; and help develop networks of support
Reducing waste
In partnership with CCC, Plastic Free Whitstable, repair cafe, Circular Kitchens, community clothes bank, local charities, Whitstable Maritime to develop links with existing initiatives related to waste reduction and explore ways to replicate good practice elsewhere
Building local resilience to environmental crises
Working with CCC, local and national exemplars, Stream Walk, allotment groups to begin to develop what the community needs to be resilient in the face of the multiple crises and by the end of the year have a plan for future work
