Voices of the Blean – Report by Rachael Reilly Now Available in Print

Copies of the Voices of the Blean report are now available in print to buy from Save The Blean website: https://www.savetheblean.org/ Go to the website and click on DONATE. Copies cost £15 each (£10 to cover printing costs + £5 donation to Save The Blean) – please feel […]

Retrofitted placards

New placards. Same message. The University is pushing ahead — it intends to submit a planning application and challenge Canterbury City Council’s decision to remove their land from the Local Plan at the Planning Inspector stage. Deleted from the Local Plan means nothing to them. So we keep […]

Good news for Save The Blean

Canterbury City Council Adopts Local Plan – C12 Site Removed Canterbury City Council voted on 18 March to adopt the Local Plan for the district. Significantly, the plan does not include the C12 site – University of Kent land at Blean previously earmarked for 2,000 homes. The removal […]

Respond to the new Canterbury Council Local Plan Consultation by 21st October!

As you may already know, Canterbury City Council is proposing some changes to the draftLocal Plan, which include removing policy C12 for the large development of 2,000 housesbetween Blean and Tyler Hill. This is of course the policy which Save The Blean has beenopposing, and we will be […]

Social research released, showing impact of Blean housing proposals on community

At the end of 2024 an independent social researcher, Rachael Reilly, carried out a participatory social research study in the villages of Tyler Hill, Blean and Rough Common. The aim of the research was to listen to the voices of local residents, campaigners and community leaders to understand […]

Swale Councillor Working to Make Blean Woods an AONB

Local Swale Councillor Terry Thompson is campaigning to reconnect the Blean Ancient Woodland and have it designated part of the Kent Downs National Landscape (National Landscapes were previously known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty). Working with local MPs, Councillors, wildlife groups and landowners, he has been developinga […]

Local MPs Urge University of Kent to Back Biopark Plan

Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield and neighbouring MP for Herne Bay & Sandwich, Sir Roger Gale, have both urged the University of Kent to ditch its proposal for 2,000 houses in the Blean and instead back innovative plans for a Blean Biopark. Ms Duffield has written to the University […]

Final Chance to See Our Photography Exhibition – 7th May

On Wednesday 7th May, our photography exhibition All That Could Be Lost will make a pop-up appearance at the coffee morning at Rough Common Village Hall. This will give local residents in Rough Common (and anyone else who missed it in Canterbury and Blean) an extra chance to […]

Petition Delivered to the Council

We have now handed in our petition to Canterbury City Council – huge thanks to all who signed it either on paper or via Change.org. A group of residents from Canterbury and Whitstable set it up in October, with the following wording: We, the undersigned, urge the protection and […]

STB Speakers at Council Cabinet Meeting 24.3.25

On Monday evening Jules, William and Max spoke superbly in front of the Council’s Cabinet (members of which provide strategic leadership in Canterbury City Council). Jules started by highlighting the huge public backing we have for protecting and enhancing the Blean Woodland Complex, as evidenced by the 25,000+ […]