For changing news it is best to look at Facebook or to look at the noticeboards at the Centre.
These open in a new tab.
Singleton Environment Centre – https://www.facebook.com/SingletonEnvironmentCentre
Footprints Cafe and Bistro – https://www.facebook.com/FootprintsCafe
Repair Cafe Ashford – https://www.facebook.com/RepairCafeAshford
This page shows reports and more long-term additions to the website.
5 August 2023
John Alexander, Centre Manager, is pleased to receive a cheque for Singleton Spaces, the charity which operates Singleton Environment Centre. The money will extend the Centre’s excellent education programme for the local community. The sum was the residue of the former Great Chart and Singleton Youth Club which ran from 2007-2017 at the Singleton Village Hall. After a very busy time it was wound up due to insufficient volunteer leaders.
Pictured (L to R): Ian McClintock, Carla Hickmott, Natasha Morgan, volunteers, Nikki Bick, youth club treasurer and volunteer, Luke Bick who attended the youth club from age 11 and became a Young Volunteer, John Alexander, Malcolm Wiffen (chair of Singleton Spaces).
The interior lighting was in need of replacement and a new set of LED downlighters and spotlights has been installed. The new fittings will save on the electricity consumption and continue to show the building as energy efficient as possible.
Singleton spaces has been officially chosen as the Mayor of Ashford, Cllr Jenny Webb’s charity of the year 2022-23! Read more about it here
The Mayor of Ashford Cllr Jenny Webb
As if the Community Groups at the Singleton Environment Centre didn’t do well enough last year with the 2nd place finish, this year they have gone above and beyond by winning the Victoria Park Scarecrow Trail!
Their Scarecrow, whose inspiration was derived from one of Hollywood’s most beloved wizards, fought off fierce competition from several other scarecrows from local schools, businesses and individuals to take 1st place! Who does he remind you of?
A well-deserved victory, and a huge thank you to everyone who donated materials and took part!
Our Repair Cafe and Knit n Natter group came second in the Victoria Park Scarecrow Trail!
Have a look at our scarecrow!
The newly built extension at Singleton Environment Centre is now open to offer new space and activities that complement the excellent facilities that have been available in the area for years.
The clever, multi-purpose design, created from shipping containers and wooden clad, provides a flexible space for the community to enjoy, from a family party to a creative workshop, business meeting or an after-school activity.
The project managed by Great Chart with Singleton Parish Council and Singleton Spaces, was funded by £133,200 of S106 development funding, funding from Great Chart with Singleton Parish Council, and fundraising by Singleton Spaces.
To celebrate the opening of the new extension the Centre held an Open Day for the local community with a ribbon cutting by Cllr Heather Hayward. (see above)
Cllr Mathew Forest, Ashford Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Culture, Tourism and Leisure, said, “This innovative extension is a fantastic addition to the existing facilities and continues the theme of bringing community and nature together in harmony. The additional space will ensure more people can benefit from the community facilities and activitities on offer, in turn providing a boost to health and wellbeing, as well as raising environmental awareness.”
Singleton Spaces is pleased to announce that following our Bronze award in the Kent Wildlife Trust “Wild About Gardens” competition last year, this year we have been awarded a SILVER award for the grounds at the Centre.
This award is based upon the maintenance of the grounds, the wildlife, the planting, and the overall ecosystem that we try to promote within the grounds.
Congratulations to all of our on site team, and of course the support of our volunteers and partners who help to maintain the site.
You know we need this… Fundraising
In June 2019 Singleton Environment Centre installed a wild bee box from the “Bee-leeving” project. This is re-wilding and concentrates on the welfare of the bees rather than the commercial aspect of bee-keeping.
The Wildlife Trust stimulates a social media frenzy in June each year with amazing photographs from around the country. Singleton Environment Centre joined in with a poster recording each day.
Read more and see the photos >
We are very pleased to have been visited by Damian Green, our local MP, for a familiarisation with the new stewardship of the Singleton Environment Centre and a guided tour by Jenny Tippen of the Ashford Community Woodland.
He also joined our young visitors exploring the wildlife pond.
Damian Green with Sean of KRAG, Charli Wilson and John Alexander, centre manager.
Our open day was held on 16 June 2018.
Our new signs have appeared on site.
Great for the soil in your garden – bring your own or ask for a bag.
The ash comes from the environmentally-friendly wood-chip boiler.
The coffee grounds come from the Footprints Cafe Bistro.