Hambrook Marshes - A History

Hambrook Marshes were purchased by in 2004 by Kent Enterprise Trust (KET), with the goal of providing training opportunities through conservation and land management skills that will hopefully lead into employment. The works on site promote biodiversity by creating and restoring wildlife habitats. Hambrook Marshes is an area of marshland on the banks of the River Stour rich with biodiversity; Hambrook Marshes is a Local Wildlife Site; formally known as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI). Concentrated efforts on the marshes will hopefully lead to recognition as a serous conservation interest.


Since January 2010, there have been regular volunteer tasks on the site, such as stock fencing, scrub removal as well as ditch restoration and clearance. There has been major earth works on the site that includes reed bed restoration, scrape and pond creation.

Previous owners Brett Construction, used the site to extract the aggregates, this site was backfilled with the spoil from the construction of the A2; once the site was landscaped very few of the features were restored until Kent Enterprise Trust bought the land in 2004.

The Trust’s aim is to work the land using traditional management techniques that will promote an increase in biodiversity in the hope that this will encourage some of the animals and plant species that used to be present hundreds of years ago. Hambrook Marshes are an important wetland site that acts as a water catchment area for Canterbury, reducing the risk of flooding during the wet seasons.

Appleseed Landscaping - An Introduction

Appleseed Landscapes is a social enterprise, providing a community based professional gardening service, also giving training, work experience and personal development opportunities to enable people to overcome individual challenges in the work place through a range of horticultural projects.


Trainees work alongside the team of experienced gardening professionals, gaining skills in horticulture while gaining a sense of purpose and confidence through the work day routine.

Hambrook Marshes - An Introduction

Set in the floodplain of the Great Stour just outside Canterbury, Hambrook Marshes is a site of Special Conservation Interest and borders a Local Nature Reserve.




Hambrook Marshes is maintained by the Kent Enterprise Trust, a registered charity along with volunteers of varying horticultural experience and knowledge, from professional through to the very inexperienced. The general public and various groups such as Kent Refugee Action Network & Kent Council for Addiction play a key part in the sites management.



Hambrook Marshes has a friends group called the ‘Friends of Hambrook Marshes’; a community run group that runs alongside the project and support events that happen on site. There is also a Facebook fan page just search Hambrook Marshes. More volunteers are always welcome to join in events such as Willow Planting or Bench Making. Events are typically held on the first and third Saturday of the month Volunteers need to contact us on 01227 844 500, e-mail c.martin@enterprisingopps.org.uk or visit http://www.enterprisetrust.org/ for an application form

Kent Enterprise House - An Introduction

Kent Enterprise House business and conference centre offers a unique working experience. With fully equipped meeting and training rooms, a conference suite and manned reception, we are able to offer a highly professional working environment.


Our modern open plan office, new ergonomically friendly design furniture, high spec computers, personal Cisco IP phones and Xerox high quality copier/printer enable our office space to act as a top-quality, yet affordable alternative working environment.

Kent Enterprise Trust moved to Kent Enterprise House in July 2009, to allow growth and to launch its new project, Community Enterprise Hub and Conference Centre.

The team were actively involved in the planning and design of Kent Enterprise House allowing staff to feel a part of its creation and real input into the future of the company.

The project is developing well and provides a vital income to Kent Enterprise Trust.