Kerbside Maintenance: Reviving Sandwich’s Historic Streets

This is the design l created to support the scheme.

Kerbside Maintenance and CLEAR Sandwich

Over the past year, I’ve had countless conversations with clients, tourists, and residents about one thing that keeps coming up — the pavements and kerbsides in Sandwich. The council does what it can regarding litter and safety, but things often get left when it comes to weeds. And in a town as historic and beautiful as Sandwich, those little details really do matter.

A row of weeds creeping up against a medieval wall, or a kerb full of moss, can make the whole street look tired. I see it all the time when I’m out working. And the truth is, it bothers me. Not just because it’s unsightly, but because it feels like a slow erosion of the town’s character.

Why I started doing this

Now, kerbside maintenance isn’t new for me — I’ve always included it in my general gardening work for clients. I don’t just stop at the gate while looking after a garden. I’ll take care of the pavement edge and the curb because they are part of the property’s frontage.

But the wider streets were another matter. Week after week, I noticed weeds building up in areas that get overlooked. I realised I could either complain about it or do something about it. So, I decided to start tidying the streets myself, as a volunteer, in my own time.

Before I did, I spoke to both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. To their credit, they were supportive of the idea and welcomed the gesture. It felt like the right thing to do — if you care about where you live, you should chip in when you can.

The hurdles

Of course, good intentions don’t always come without complications. A few of my clients quite fairly asked: “If you’re going out and doing this for free, why should I pay you to do it at my house?”

And they had a point. The difference, though, is between a guaranteed service and an occasional bit of goodwill. When working for clients, kerbside maintenance is regular, reliable, and part of a paid routine. When I volunteer, it’s ad hoc — a couple of hours on a Sunday if I can spare the time. One isn’t a replacement for the other.

At one stage, I even considered giving the council a percentage of what I earned from kerbside work so they could fund a proper group to look after the streets. But, as it turns out, that wasn’t allowed. So I had to rethink how to make this work fairly for everyone. That’s when the idea of a community rate came about — keeping it affordable for clients while also recognising the value of the work.

CLEAR Sandwich

From those conversations came something new: CLEAR Sandwich — which stands for Community-Led Environmental Appearance Renewal. In plain terms, it’s a small volunteer effort to target the parts of Sandwich that are most visible, historic, and in need of attention.

The idea is simple: once a week, a group of us get together on a Sunday morning for a couple of hours, armed with hand tools and safe, eco-friendly methods, and we give a few streets the care they deserve.

To begin with, it will just be me. I may have one or two of my gardeners join in as unpaid goodwill — they’re covered under my insurance, which makes things straightforward. Suze can also join me. But it’s a bit more complicated for other volunteers because I can’t cover them under my insurance.

The good news is that the Town Council is setting up a Volunteer Caretaker Scheme, and once that’s up and running, volunteers will have proper cover through them.

Side note:

CLEAR won’t cover every road in Sandwich. Instead, we’re focusing on streets that shape how the town looks and feels — the “first impressions” areas that define Sandwich’s character. That means the historic core (like Strand Street, The Quay, and King Street), the most walked tourist routes (like Knightrider Street and Upper Strand Street), and a handful of smaller alleys and lanes with real charm (like Potter Street and Cottage Row). The aim isn’t to replace council work, but to make sure the places that people see most often — residents and visitors alike — are kept at their best.

Which streets?

CLEAR will target only the streets that most shape the town’s appearance and character.

Streets selected for CLEAR Sandwich

Top 10 – Iconic Heritage & Tourism Core

These are the “postcard” streets — the ones most photographed, most walked, and most associated with Sandwich’s identity.

Strand Street
The Quay
The Chain
King Street
No Name Street
Holy Ghost Alley
High Street
St Peter’s Street
Fisher Gate / Quay Approach
Seven Post Alley
St Clement’s Church Street

Secondary Tourist Routes

These are the streets visitors often pass through when exploring — historic links and walkways that connect the core.

Knightrider Street
Upper Strand Street
Love Lane
Loop Street
St Mary’s Gate
Pillory Gate
Short Street
Harnet Street
Milk Alley
St Mary’s Alley
Paradise Row

Character Areas

These are smaller lanes, yards, and rows that give Sandwich its medieval charm and “lived-in” feel.

Potter Street
Cottage Row
Austin’s Lane
Bowling Street
Three Kings Yard
Guildcount Lane

Footnote:

I’ve worked out these streets from a gardener’s perspective — focusing on areas where weeds, moss, and frontage neglect have the biggest visual impact.

When the Sandwich Town Council Caretaker Scheme launches, they may well take a different approach, based on their own priorities and resources.

Why I care

At the end of the day, I didn’t start this because it was convenient, or because I had spare time (I don’t!). I started it because I care about where I live. Sandwich is a special place, and when visitors stop to take photos, or when residents walk down a street they’ve lived on for years, they deserve to see it at its best.

This isn’t about politics or pointing fingers at the council. It’s about civic pride and taking responsibility for our shared environment. If we do a little bit, we can make a big difference.

That’s what Kerbside Maintenance and CLEAR Sandwich are about: caring for the frontages we’re responsible for and the streets we all share.

Final note:
I’ll be turning this into a series of blog posts so you can follow along with the progress. From the first small sessions to how the scheme develops — successes, setbacks, and all the details in between.