We developed ideas with a community panel that wanted to see a landmark artwork near Milton Creek, responding to its rich history and ecology. The community helped to write the brief and selected the artist. It was a first for Sittingbourne and the second phase of an ongoing arts engagement project, which has helped to raise ambition and aspiration in the local area. Our focus was to raise the profile of Milton Creek and the interconnected ‘hinterlands’ which are rich in biodiversity and history. Estuary communities, such as Sittingbourne, are under increasing threat of rising sea levels and yet the awareness of this vast expanse of water is often overlooked and mistreated by neighbouring industry.

Initiatives like Waterland serve as crucial platforms to unveil the creek’s abundant ecology and advocate for the benefits of embracing our connection to water.

The project delivered a series of community and school participatory workshops led by local and multi-disciplinary artist collective Outdoor Studios, with the community creations inspired the final landmark pieces.

You’ll find these lovely interactive creations dotted around Milton Creek Country Park and located next to the creek, where you can sit and marvel at the unique landscape.