Hythe Environmental Community Group is a non-profit group with a community-led approach to making the Hythe area a more fulfilling, sustainable and environmentally aware place to live. We aim to help people reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, reduce excess waste, improve the recycling of what waste they do produce, improve the visual impact of the area and increase appreciation of the areas flora and fauna.

Typical projects are: Seed and Plant Swaps; Community Apple Pressing; Fruit Tree Grafting and Pruning courses; Home Energy Surveys; Litter-picks, guidance on recycling, visits to recycling plants; Expert environmental talks and walks; Bumblebee and wild flower surveys; Involvement with local initiatives such as Kent Wildlife Trust's Coastal Guardian Scheme. For 2020, with many activities cancelled, the focus has been on Gleaning (going out to farms and harvesting produce which would otherwise have gone to waste) This produce is then distributed to charities, schools and other organisations with access to those in food poverty. April - November 2020, we harvested and distributed over 20 tonnes of produce.

Most of the activities above require some funding and whilst we do pick up some donations at the Seed and Plant Swaps and Apple Pressing Event, we have running costs and specific costs related to the different sub-groups and projects. We need Hythe ECG tabards which identify our litter pickers and make them more visible when working on roads. Our Community Orchard needs a whole load of manure which we will have to purchase. Our gleaning activities require sacks, knives and gloves for our gleaners.

With a little of your help we can do more and do it better!