News

Both as good practice and to ensure we meet the terms of our public liability insurance, Sandgate Parish Council have an annual Tree Inspection Report undertaken in the areas we manage with trees (Sandgate Park and Fremantle Park).

The 2023 Inspection of both areas is now complete, and the reports are below.

As you’ll see, there are works recommended to a number of trees, some as “Priority 2” (do them within the next couple of months) and some “Priority 3” (do them in about the next 6 months).

The Parish Council clearly need to make sure the Priority 2 works are done soon. They have been commissioned from qualified contractors. Those contractors will, of course, pay due regard to checking for and avoiding and nesting birds. The Priority 3 works we’ve asked them to schedule outside the nesting season, despite there being a little extra cost in doing so.

So if you see works to trees in those areas over the next couple of months, that’s the reason – they are required for safety. Removed trees (and there are a few) will be replaced in due course where possible.

Following on from a talk given in February by Dr Nikki Gammans, from the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust, the Sandgate Environmental Action group (SEA) are setting up bee survey walks in the local area  to help the Trust with their vital surveying work. 

Nikki explained that as well as bee friendly gardening (Bumble Bee Conservation Trust Gardening Advice) Bee Walks were something positive we could do. The Bee Walks take place on the same route each month and a record is made of  bees spotted and entered  into a national database. Nikki explained that it is so important to get a clear picture of bee activity because the data ensures the Trust’s conservation activities and advice is underpinned by the science of what’s happening to bumblebees across the UK.  The Trust needs data from this area which is where we can help.

If you’d like to get involved then please come along to the free identification training day, run by Aydan Kahn from the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust on Saturday 15th of April from 10am – 2pm in the Reading Rooms at the Old Fire Station. 

Naturally there will be tea, coffee and cake but please bring your own lunch. If you can stay longer then there will be an opportunity to try out a walk with some nets. 

If you would like to attend please can you let us know by emailing sandgatenevironmentalaction@gmail.com or ringing or messaging Gemma on 07984 694907.

If you’d like to do a bit of homework before or are just interested , this is pdf of their Kent Bumble Bee Guide -Bumblebees-of-Kent- Leaflet-Bumble Bee Conservation Trust

Hopefully there are many bee lovers in Sandgate who can help us carry out these surveys!

If you can’t make the training but are still interested then please email us with your contact details.

In March St Paul’s Church Sandgate present John Hurd with some of his own song compositions accompanied by the popular and well known Tammy File plus Richard Baulch.

The performance takes place on: Saturday 25^th March between 10am and 12noon.

Entrance and refreshments FREE.

From the Kent Association of Local Council’s Newsletter March 2023:

International Women’s Day is important to us all. This year, the theme is #EmbraceEquity. KALC has been supporting the Day for some years now.

We asked our members to nominate women in their communities who have inspired others with work and engagement that has gone above and beyond. Your replies were brilliant and we are pleased to announce our winners here:

…

Gaye Thomas MBE, Parish Clerk at Sandgate Parish Council. Her nomination mentions her enthusiasm for breathing new live into the very well used library in the village. Her residents say she is inspiring and always willing to help in the community.

Parish Chairman Tim Prater said:

This is a really worthy award, and we’re proud of Gaye, and delighted to see her work recognised.

Gaye first joined Sandgate as Deputy Clerk and became Parish Clerk in January 2017.

Aside from regular Clerk duties, which Gaye handles with ability and aplomb, Sandgate is unique in Kent in running Sandgate Library on an agency basis for Kent County Council.

That allows us to have more control of opening hours, to utilise volunteers to keep the service running and support users, manage and share the use of our premise which is a library, meeting space and Parish Council office.

We simply could not have contemplated taking this service on in 2016 without having Gaye on board who is a qualified librarian with over 20 years experience in London libraries. She has helped manage and shape our service, training and supporting volunteers, liaising with Kent Libraries and working at every level, from facilities management to singing the Wheels on the Bus with 2 year olds at “Rhyme Time”.

In Sandgate’s time running our library we have extended opening hours where other libraries have seen their cut. During Covid, Sandgate Library was always one of the earliest “re-openers” at each stage of relaxing lockdown, with many larger and similar sized libraries remaining closed for months whilst we were open. In addition Sandgate offered “click and collect” and delivery services to local residents.

Through the course of the last 12 months, Gaye has also led the refurbishment of the library, designed to make the library a more accessible and inclusive space, feel warmer and more welcoming, and better support a wide range of uses through more flexible layouts.

Having in the last 2 years gained her Ilca qualification, Gaye has just started her Cilca as she wants to ensure we achieve Quality Council status.

Sandgate would simply be the poorer without her.

On the 16^th of September 2023, Folkestone Rowing Club are hosting the 66^th South Coast Championship. This prestigious event will bring 800 – 1,000 people together on the beach at Sandgate to take part in the most important regatta in the coastal rowing season.

The Championship, which includes races for young people and for adults, will see rowers from Herne Bay to Plymouth come together in Sandgate for a weekend of fierce competition and sportsmanship.  

Most crews will arrive in Sandgate on Friday 15^th September. On 16^th September, clubs and crews will arrive at Sandgate beach from 6am onwards. Racing will start at 9:30 and continue throughout the day until 5pm.

After the regatta finishes, Folkestone Rowing Club will host the prizegiving and an evening of celebration.

The Rowing Club will encourage visitors to use our local businesses and amenities throughout the day. The club are also offering local businesses the chance to sponsor the Championship. Tiered sponsorship packages give businesses the flexibility to advertise their company to the rowing community and support the event.

Sponsorship opportunities start from just £100 for programme advertising ranging up to £1000 for a Platinum level sponsor. To find out more, visit https://folkestonesouthcoastchamps.co.uk/sponsors or contact sponsorship@folkestonesouthcoastchamps.co.uk .

The 66th South Coast Championship Regatta and 17th U16 Rowing Championships will be hosted by CARA at Sandgate beach, Folkestone on Saturday 16th September 2023.

There is more information on the Folkestone SCC Facebook page.