Farmers across the Swale collaborating for the environment

The Swale Farmer Cluster is one of many farmer clusters across the country supported by the Countryside Stewardship facilitation fund. The fund supports farmers and other land managers across the local area to collaborate on environmental initiatives. Since its establishment in 2015, the fund has set up 180 groups comprising of 4000 members. The Swale Cluster was established in 2023 and is currently made up of 31 members covering approximately 12,575 hectares. Our members manage land throughout the Swale Estuary from the Isle of Sheppey, south past Sittingbourne and Faversham towards Challock. The Swale landscape offers an interesting blend of marshland and horticultural land. In addition the group has engaged with a number of local stakeholders including the Kent bat Group, South East Rivers Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust and Natural England.