North East Kent

The North East Kent Farm Cluster was set up in early 2024 as a response to growing concerns about water availability.  The group contains 32 members and covers just under 10,000 hectares. As a Defra Funded cluster, members seek to broaden the groups horizon and focus on the environment and the wider farm business.  

Key focus species 

• Skylark 

• Corn Bunting 

• Lapwing 

• Turtle  Dove 

•  Shrill Carder Bee 

The cluster hosts a number of SPA’s, SAC’s, and key Ramsar sites and is surrounded by SSSI from coastal to Stodmarsh.  The cluster is also host to the best soil in the UK, with vast amounts of highly fertile grade 1 soil – hence the vast hectares used for vegetable production.  

The group continues to improve water quality within surface and groundwater, improve connectivity, public education, and strengthen the production of healthy produce. The group seeks to form Kent’s first Water Abstraction Group to help maintain curial water levels for irrigation and biodiversity.