Dover In Bloom

The River Dour is Dover’s precious chalk stream and a natural gem worth celebrating. 🌿🌊 That’s why the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership has just launched the ‘Focus on the Dour’ photography competition. Take a gentle stroll along the river, soak in the sights and sounds of this unique habitat, and capture its beauty. 🌱 There are multiple categories to enter, with some fantastic prizes up for grabs. Plus, your winning photos will be exhibited at this year’s Sunday Funday at Fort Burgoyne, where visitors will vote for the ‘People’s Choice’ award. Entries close Sunday 19 July. Go to @wccpnews to find out more. Good luck! #DoverInBloom #FocusOnTheDour #RiverDour #Dover #Photography

What does it truly mean to belong to a place? Earlier this month, we invited the @samphireproject to join us for @doverinbloom river clean alongside our young creatives from The Forge and the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership @wccpnews . Here, Aram Rawf @aram.rawf.3 from Samphire shares a powerful reflection from the day. Watch until the end to hear how planting a single flower can spark a profound sense of pride and connection for our community’s newest residents. It’s a reminder that when we work together for a greener town, we also grow a sense of home. #DoverInBloom #FutureFoundry #Samphire #CommunityBelonging #Dover

It was all hands on deck for the 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 Community Clean and Green Day last Saturday! 🌿 Organised by Future Foundry in collaboration with White Cliffs Countryside Partnership and Samphire, the day saw our town come together to care for the River Dour. We spent the day working beside and in the water, cleaning the river and planting up the banks with species specially chosen to thrive in this rare chalk stream environment. The day was a true celebration of collaboration: ✨ Future Foundry coordinated the event, bringing a team of young greening enthusiasts from their youth art club, The Forge ✨ White Cliffs Countryside Partnership led the river clean, bringing their expert conservation knowledge and deep understanding of the Dour. ✨ Samphire volunteers joined us from the refugee community, helping to plant up the riverbeds with enthusiasm and care. ✨ Laura Lee, our garden designer, brought her specialist experience in chalk stream planting to guide the work. ✨ And Dover’s future creative leaders, the team from The Forge! Future Foundry’s youth art club couldn’t wait to get their waders on and jump into the river, bringing their energy and passion to the cause. Huge thanks to Bradley (The Forge) for snapping these brilliant photos of the day. 📸 It was social, it was joyful, and it was all about making Dover a better place together. #DoverInBloom #RiverDour #CommunityAction #ChalkStreams @future_foundry @wccpnews @samphireproject @lauraleegardens

One person can cause damage, but many hands can repair it. Last week, Transition Dover’s community planting beds along the River Dour were unfortunately vandalised, with plants stolen and beds damaged. It’s a frustrating blow to the green corridors we’re building together. But the story doesn’t end there. This week, they’re back, running “Community Gardening – Undeterred!” to replant, repair, and rebuild. Why? Because the work that’s happening in Dover - creating greener spaces, connecting our town, and caring for our environment - is supported by far more people than the act of destruction. When we come together, the numbers are on our side. Most of us want a Dover that is greener, friendlier, and a better place to live. We won’t let a single act of vandalism stop the positive change that so many of us are working towards. Join Transition Dover tomorrow to show that care and creativity still win. 📍Bridge Street, Dover, CT16 2LB 🗓️ Saturday 18th April, from 2.30pm

WANTED?! Wait... Have you seen these plants? They were last spotted looking healthy and minding their own business bothering absolutely no one, before going missing Sunday under suspicious circumstances. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of the missing plants, or any news that may help with enquiries, please do get in touch. Reward offered for return of plants of information leading to recovery of plants. Dover’s greenery deserves better than disappearing overnight. If you saw anyone stealing plants or damaging trees over the weekend, please report it to Kent Police online, to Crimestoppers, or by calling 01304 242625. Thank you. #Dover #MissingPlants #PlantAppeal #WhoTookThePlants #GreenDover #CommunityMatters #DoverInBloom #HelpUsFindThem #KeepDoverLovely #RespectOurTown @followers

The planting has officially begun for Dover in Bloom 2026! 🌿🌱 Right now, we’re focusing our attention on the banks of River Dour. Thanks to our wonderful Forge crew 💪 - the young people from our free Saturday Youth art club - and garden designer, Laura Lee @lauraleegardens - the riverbank is transforming before our eyes. Laura is bringing her expertise in chalk bed planting to design a scheme that works with the river’s unique environment, transforming this key walking route into a thriving corridor for biodiversity, and a space the whole town can enjoy. From the riverbank to the town centre, this about more than just planting. It's about caring for Dover’s unique landscape and proving that when we tend to our environment, we create spaces that bring people together. Huge thanks to East Kent College @eastkentcollege and the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership @wccpnews for collaborating with us this month too - more on that to follow. This is just the beginning... 🌸 . . 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 is produced by Future Foundry @future_foundry , working with 40+ partners, with essential support from Dover Town Council @dovertowncouncil , Arts Council England @acegrams , Dover District Council @doverdistrictcouncil , Port of Dover @portofdover & Kent Community Foundation. Follow @doverinbloom for updates. #DoverInBloom #RiverDour #ChalkStream #FutureFoundry #Dover #CommunityGardening #GreeningDover

What is 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 all about? Well, we couldn’t have put it better than the South East’s best-loved radio gardener, Jean Griffin, in conversation with Future Foundry Projects Manager, Olivia Franklin on BBC Radio Kent @bbcinkent a recently. As well as an expert gardener and radio favourite, Jean is also one of the SE in Bloom Trustees @sseib_ , so she has followed the Dover in Bloom bid from the start. It was particularly wonderful to hear her take on what ‘in Bloom’ means to Dover – and we couldn’t agree more! You can still hear the full interview on BBC Sounds – link in bio. Catch it quickly, as it’s only available for a few more days! . . 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 is produced by Future Foundry @future_foundry , working with 40+ partners, with essential support from Dover Town Council @dovertowncouncil , Arts Council England @acegrams , Dover District Council @doverdistrictcouncil , Port of Dover @portofdover & Kent Community Foundation. Follow @doverinbloom for updates. #doverinbloom #dover #chalkstream #communityaction #greeningdover

Too few people know just how special Dover’s river is… The River Dour is one of the world’s rarest chalk streams and the heart of our town’s unique biodiversity. 🌿 This week, as part of East Kent College Community Week, we’re beginning this year’s 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 activities by turning our local riverbank into a living classroom. Working alongside @eastkentcollege students and the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership @wccpnews , young people are shifting from passive observers to active guardians of the Dour. From clearing brambles using care-led, place-based principles to planting sustainable planters and learning about the rare ecosystem of our waters, this is about fostering collective ownership. We’re proving that when young people lead, neglected spaces become valued assets. This is just the start of our 2026 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 journey, working with the community to create a Dover that we can be proud of for years to come. Follow along @doverinbloom as we continue to nurture Dover’s creative ecosystem and green future. 🌼✨ 🎥 Rhiana Bonterre @rhiana.mp4 & Berry Patten @berry.patten #DoverInBloom #RiverDour #EastKentCollege #YouthLeadership #Dover ChalkStream CommunityAction FutureFoundry

🌿 Earlier this year, our team joined some of our key 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 partners for a very special research trip. We travelled to the Beth Chatto Gardens @bethchattogardens in Essex - one of Britain's most remarkable horticultural landscapes - to meet the team behind the iconic garden and charitable foundation that carries Beth Chatto's extraordinary legacy. This wasn't just a day out. The Beth Chatto Foundation is advising us on our planting for our @the_RHS In Bloom bid, helping us make long term, smart planting decisions that will work for Dover's chalk landscape. After hosting them in Dover last year, we were delighted to return the visit alongside members of Dover District Council @doverdc , Dover Town Council @dovertowncouncil and gardener Laura Lee @lauraleegardens , who brought specialist knowledge of chalk stream planting. Thank you to Julia Boulton, Jo Waters, & Åsa Gregers-Warg from Beth Chatto’s Garden for such an inspiring day! Cultural leaders, local councillors, gardening specialists, and one of the world's most respected horticultural foundations coming together to work towards a greener Dover - that's exactly what Dover in Bloom is about. 🌱 . . 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 is produced by Future Foundry @future_foundry , working with 40+ partners, with essential support from Dover Town Council @dovertowncouncil , Arts Council England @acegrams , Dover District Council @doverdistrictcouncil , Port of Dover @portofdover & Kent Community Foundation.

🌿 Before 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺, conservation work was already happening across Dover - quietly, consistently, and with real impact. Over the past year, we’ve worked with local groups to align these efforts into a town-wide bid that connects our communities with the incredible conservation stories going on around them. Our nomination for @the_rhs Britain in Bloom 2026, announced last week, highlights this incredible work - showing Dover, and the rest of the UK, just how much this town cares about its natural heritage. Key partners include: 🏛️ English Heritage @englishheritage 🦋 Kent Wildlife Trust @kentwildlife 🌄 Kent Down National Landscape (& Aspiring Cross-Channel UNESCO Global Geopark) @kentdownsnl 🏡 National Trust @nationaltrust @southeastnt 🌱 White Cliffs Countryside Partnership @wccpnews And these are just some of the incredible partners whose conservation efforts are creating a better, greener Dover. 👉 Stay up to date with key 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 news at @doverinbloom . . . 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 is led by Future Foundry @future_foundry , and supported by Dover Town Council @dovertowncouncil , Arts Council England @aceagrams , Port of Dover @portofdover , St James Dover @stjamesdover , Dover Community Association, Destination Dover @destinationdover . Photos: Matt Wilson @matt.wilson.photography & Amy Gwatkin @amygwatkin #DoverInBloom #WithThemNotForThem #DoverConservation #CommunityCollaboration #FutureFoundry

Incredible news for Dover! ✨️🌿 From 'neglected' to national recognition - 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 has been nominated for @the_rhs Britain in Bloom 2026! We’re beyond proud of our town - as one of just 18 first-time finalists among 44 villages, towns and cities across the UK, this is a huge achievement for our community.🏆 This success belongs to Dover - over 40 partners came together to spotlight our unique landscapes and world-class conservation, leading to this nomination following three top prizes at the RHS South and South East in Bloom Awards @sseib_ last autumn. And young people have been at the heart of it all. From planning to planting, they've led the way. 💪🌻 Dover In Bloom isn't just about flowers - it's about celebrating our town, our community, and our heritage, and building a future that's greener, more connected, and full of possibility. Massive thanks to our partners, funders, and especially the young people of Dover 💚🌻 We've got big plans for 2026 - more planting, more events, more opportunities to get involved. Stay tuned! 👉 Swipe to see who helped make it happen… Know someone who was involved? Tag them in the comments to share the good news! 🌸 — 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 is led by Future Foundry @future_foundry , working with 40+ partners, with essential support from Dover Town Council @dovertowncouncil , Arts Council England @acegrams , Dover District Council @doverdistrictcouncil , Port of Dover @portofdover & Kent Community Foundation. #DoverInBloom #BritainInBloom #Dover #FutureFoundry #YouthLeadChange Kent

One organisation can't transform a whole town. But 40+ working together? In 2025 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 showed just what you can achieve when a town works together to achieve incredible results! 🏆🌷🐝