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Natural East Kent (NEK)
NEK is an initiative to support the regen-eration of rural and coastal East Kent communities through the area's natural heritage.
NEK covers the largely undiscovered rural area stretching from Canterbury across to Dover & Thanet.
This is a living, working landscape, important for agriculture, forestry and wildlife as well as its rural and coastal communities.
Links
Creative Environmental Networks
Tourism South East
(going green - for visitors)
Tourism South East
(sustainable tourism activities & support)
Maidstone
Tour Maidstone
Canterbury
Tourism site
Sevenoaks
Leisure
About Us
The Kent Sustainable Tourism Network has been created and developed by the Kent Downs AONB Unit as part of the Transmanche Sustainable Tourism Project 2007/08. The administration of the network continues to be managed by the AONB Unit.
The Kent Downs is the eastern half of the North Downs and is a nationally protected landscape. The Kent Downs AONB Unit is a strategic body that works with partners to achieve the conservation and enhancement of the AONB. For more information on the Kent Downs follow the link.
The Kent Downs AONB Unit has been developing sustainable tourism since 2004, when EU funding was sourced to pilot a number of initiatives in the Mid Kent Downs. Based on the success of this pilot project, further funding was secured to extend the work AONB-wide and into East Kent, under the banner "Natural East Kent".
Our work involves:
- Working with communities to develop community led tourism and and a range of interpretive projects
- Providing training for tourism businesses to help develop sustainable business practice, as well as develop their 'rural welcome' and IT skills
- Launching and supporting the Green Tourism Business Scheme - an accreditation scheme recognising environmental and social best practice
- Delivering a range of marketing, promotional and awareness raising campaigns
- The launch and development of the Kent Sustainable Tourism Network - the online networking and support forum for tourism and tourism related businesses in Kent
Throughout all our work we have the close support of Tourism South East, who have been the main driver behind the launch of the GTBS in the South East as well as providing invaluable business support to their members.
Support and funding for the Transmanche Sustainable Tourism Network has also come from Maidstone Borough Council, Canterbury City Council and Sevenoaks District Council.
One of the most important aspects of our work involves developing partnerships with organisations that also provide support to tourism businesses. For example:
- To help us in our work with local communities, we work with the Hidden Britain initiative.
- To ensure access of information on energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, we work closely with Creative Environmental Networks.
Future development plans for the KSTN will be announced here in due course.
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The Kent Sustainable Tourism Network has been developed as part of the Transmanche Sustainable Tourism Project which is managed by the Kent Downs AONB Unit. The Transmanche Sustainable Tourism Project in the Kent Downs AONB and Natural East Kent is part financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund - Interreg IIIa, and supported by the East Kent Partnership, Tourism South East, Canterbury City Council, Maidstone Borough Council and Sevenoaks District Council.
© 2008 Kent Downs AONB Unit. All rights reserved.