Case Study: Romney Marsh, Kent

Romney Marsh is a unique part of the country. Its landscape has been created by both sea and farming. However the character of the area is currently being threatened by a different set of forces. Neighbouring growth areas and better transport links are posing threats to the traditional land use and turning the Marsh into a forgotten corner.

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Need for the project

Many people retire to Romney Marsh from outside the area and have no knowledge of the area’s heritage. In addition many young people born in the area are moving away or have no appreciation or knowledge of the past. As we lose the older generations that worked in the sheep farming industry we lose this knowledge about the past.

This problem also manifests itself in the visitor industry, with the Marsh having little cohesion or identity for the visitor, there are groups doing sterling work but separately.

This project aimed to try and correct this state of affairs on several fronts, by getting local people (and importantly young people) actively looking at their history and heritage. By creating an identity around this heritage it will hopefully unite the work being done, and also raise awareness amongst the visitor population of the historical importance of the marsh and increase their appreciation of it.

Planning the Project

The Countryside Agency’s market Town Healthcheck for new Romney and its environs highlighted the need and desire for a local heritage project to be developed. The wishes were for a record of the heritage before it was lost, to raise awareness of the Marsh’s heritage, and to bring the community together by engendering further civic pride.

Marsh Forward is a community led organization dedicated to delivering the needs identified in the Healthcheck. A project group was formed from volunteers and trustees to take this project forward. This group has identified the action plan, the partners to involve and in short bought the project to this stage.

In the spring of 2005, Hidden Britain attended a meeting of the group to explain how they could assist in achieving the heritage objectives of the group and also provide for some of the tourism objectives of the Healthcheck.

A small working group was established and comprised members with a wide variety of skills and knowledge.

The group worked to plan the project and prepare a funding bid to the Local Heritage Initiative ( for funds to allow the project to be implemented. In October of 2005 LHI kindly agreed a grant of £22000 to Marsh Forward for undertaking the project.

Project Outputs :

A DL leaflet providing an introduction to the heriatge

A recipe book detailing traditional recipes

A heritage DVD produced by local school children

Reusable heritage carrier bags

Implementing the Project

In order to proceed with the project meetings were held to discuss and determine the format of the recipe books, bags and leaflets. All of the content was sourced locally through volunteers and the project group who freely gave of their time to the project. They provided information, contributed photographic images, tested and photographed recipes, wrote copy, and took editorial decisions.

The leaflets, bags and recipe books themselves were professionally designed and printed by David Roder of Red Carrot Design, a New Romney based company.

The leaflets, bags and recipe books are now being distributed widely across the Marsh and its surrounding area; they are also available at the Farmers Markets and at the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre.

The DVD was produced in May 2006 by the pupils of Class 9 Greatstone School, under the guidance of their teacher Phil Morgan-John. The Children embarked on a local history project to investigate their heritage and to put together a presentation that would appeal to both locals and visitors. They produced an excellent quality DVD presentation featuring the entire class. The DVD is now on show at the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre.

Local Benefits:

The project has provided benefits to the local heritage and environment by an increased awareness of their importance and a record of history and heritage that has now been preserved for future generations. It has also made more people aware of what their real heritage is and why it is so important.

It has also promoted knowledge, understanding and pride in the area for local people and especially the younger people involved in the project who have also gained valuable skills and knowledge.

The project also aims to benefit to the local economy by attracting more visitors, with the main benefit being to businesses with increased revenue. The project has added value to the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre as well as interpreting the Marsh for visitors and showcasing the distinctiveness of this special landscape.