Friends of Rochester Churchfields & Esplanade

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Friends of Rochester Churchfields & Esplanade

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Helping shape the future of Esplanade and Churchfields, key greenspaces at the centre of Rochester Margaret’s church over a 4 hectare site.

About Rochester Esplanade and Churchfields (aka Backfields)

The Esplanade:
Rochester has a rich history dating back to Roman times when it became an area of great importance due to its location on the main Dover to London road which crosses the Medway river at its lowest point. Over the centuries, the local shoreline was previously home to many local, river-dependent, businesses such as barge builders and marine engineers. In 1829 a pleasure walk was created along the foot of the Castle wall, and the site was expanded to create the present gardens in 1961 for riverside recreation offering a wide and varied scenic views over the river Medway, up to the Castle, Cathedral and Satis House and south to St. Churchfields aka ‘Backfields’:
During the 19th century this 2.4 hectare site, previously known as Church Mead, was used as pasture land for cattle until it was donated to the City of Rochester in 1906 by Councillor Charles Willis, later to become an Alderman, Mayor and freeman of the City, for use as public recreation ground in memory of his parents. Sitting on a hillside above the river Medway, Churchfields offers one of the best panoramic and scenic views in Rochester and has provided recreational space for the local community for over one hundred years.

25/10/2026

🌿 A practical change for our volunteer sessions🌿
A lot of FoRCE’s volunteer work involves looking after our local green spaces. We tend to the Suffrage Sensory Garden, plant and manage new hedgerows, and we're preparing a new planting scheme for part of Churchfields. There’s always plenty of green waste to deal with!
🍃 Until recently, we collected it all in standard single-use plastic bin bags. But thanks to Medway Council, we now have large, reusable orange bags that can hold up to a tonne of green waste each.
♻️ You may spot these orange bags waiting to be collected after one of our volunteer sessions, alongside the smaller bags we still use for litter. The green waste is then taken to the Veolia site on Medway City Estate, where it is composted along with household green waste rather than going to landfill.
💚 We’re pleased that our work with Medway Council is bringing practical benefits to our volunteer sessions. Less plastic waste, less handling for our volunteers and greater efficiency — all while helping us look after our local environment.
A small change with big benefits! 🌱

23/10/2026

🍎 This week, our Friday series about wildlife in the city turns to the apple tree — a familiar sight with a fascinating history and an important role in supporting local wildlife.
🍂 October is a special time for apples. It's harvest season, and freshly picked fruit is being pressed to make c***r. Did you know that c***r was once used as part of agricultural workers' wages? Apples also featured in traditional Halloween fortune-telling, particularly in attempts to predict future romance!
🍏 Apple Day, celebrated on 21 October, was established in 1990 by the environmental organisation Common Ground to celebrate Britain's rich variety of apples and help protect traditional orchards.
🌸 In September, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) chose the apple tree as its Wildlife Wonder Plant of the Month, highlighting its value to wildlife throughout the seasons.
In spring, apple blossom provides nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators. In summer, the leaves feed caterpillars, which are an important part of the food chain. Come autumn, apples provide food for birds and small mammals, while fallen fruit attracts butterflies, including Red Admirals.
🌳 Apples are deeply rooted in British history and folklore, from Newton's famous apple to the mythical island of Avalon. And let's not forget our long tradition of orchards, c***r-making and delicious apple pies!
🍎 Here at FoRCE, we have our own apple trees to celebrate! Three beautiful crab apple trees, generously donated by our supporters, were planted during the dedication ceremony of the Suffrage Sensory Garden in July 2024.
Despite this year's drought, all three have come through the summer and are still doing well. As they grow, their blossom and fruit will provide valuable food for local wildlife — a lovely reminder that even a few trees can make a difference to nature in our city 🌿

20/10/2026

💚 A huge thank you to everyone who came along to our FoRCE volunteer morning on Saturday, 17 October!
🍁 We were lucky with the lovely autumn weather, and it was wonderful to see around 35–40 volunteers getting involved in another busy and productive morning across the Esplanade and Churchfields!
🌿 At the Hedgerow, around eight volunteers, including some new faces, worked hard digging and preparing the ground for our new hedgerow, ready for planting on Saturday 14 November.
🌸 Over at the Suffrage Sensory Garden, Jo and a group of five or six volunteers were busy pruning and weeding, helping to keep the garden looking its best.
🧤 Around ten volunteers headed out litter picking, including a couple of young helpers who joined in with their parents. It's always lovely to see the next generation getting involved in looking after our local environment!
🍂 Meanwhile, 11 cadets, accompanied by Justin and Alison, did a fantastic job litter picking and delivering leaflets along the Esplanade and the nearby side streets, covering a great deal of ground.
🧡 It was a lovely morning with so much achieved, thanks to everyone who gave their time and energy. And a special welcome to those who joined us for the first time — we hope to see you again soon! 💚

16/10/2026

🕷️ This Friday, our wildlife series is all about spiders!
Did you know that there are over 680 species of spiders in Britain? And not all of them use webs to catch their prey! Some actively chase their food, while others stalk their prey before leaping on it.
🕸️ Some tiny spiders can even travel through the air, releasing fine strands of silk that catch the wind and carry them over surprisingly long distances.
But spider silk has many other uses too. Spiders use it to protect their eggs, build shelters and even create nurseries for their young.
Garden spiders can rebuild their webs as often as every day, sometimes eating the old silk to recycle valuable nutrients.
🌿 Spiders also play an important role in our gardens, feeding on flies, aphids and other small invertebrates and helping to keep their populations in balance.
🍂 Autumn is a particularly good time to spot spiders, as males of many species become more active in their search for a mate.
📸 Many thanks to our volunteer Aileen for these photos of spiders spotted in our Suffrage Sensory Garden!
💚 Join us for our volunteer morning tomorrow. You might even spot a few spiders while you're here!
See you tomorrow at 10am by the Suffrage Sensory Garden!

14/10/2026

💚 Join us this Saturday, 17 October, for our next FoRCE Volunteer Morning!
🌿 Come along and help us look after Rochester's Esplanade and Churchfields! This time, we'll be busy pruning and weeding in the Suffrage Sensory Garden Rochester (just like our volunteer Jo is doing in the photo!), preparing the ground for the next phase of our hedgerow planting, and litter picking to keep our lovely green spaces looking their best.
Everyone is welcome, whether you've joined us before or it's your first time! We'd love to have you along. You don't need any experience, and we'll have gloves and tools ready for you. Just wear comfortable clothes and suitable shoes.
📅 Saturday 17 October 🕙 10am–12pm 📍 Suffrage Sensory Garden, Esplanade Gardens, Rochester ME1 1QN
No need to book — just come along! Whether you can stay for the whole morning or just pop by for a little while, it'll be lovely to see you! 💚
🌐 More details: https://esplanadefriends.org.uk/join-in/volunteer-activities

12/10/2026

💚 Many of you will know Natalie, our Comms and Marketing Lead. She has made an enormous contribution to FoRCE over the years, and it's hard to overstate just how much she means to our team.
Earlier this year, Natalie was diagnosed with breast cancer and has since been taking some time away from her work with FoRCE.
🌿 Natalie started a blog called This Too Shall Pass, where she has been sharing her breast cancer journey — the highs, the lows and everything in between.
Natalie and all of us at FoRCE believe that raising awareness of breast cancer is incredibly important. By sharing her own experience so openly, she hopes to help others better understand what living with this diagnosis can really be like.
💚 Her latest blog update brings some long-awaited good news! Although chemotherapy had to stop early, it has done its job in shrinking the tumour, and surgery is now booked for mid-October.
You can read Natalie's latest update, including the nerves, the relief and her determination to take things one step at a time, here:
🔗 https://this-too-shall-pass.uk/
💚 All of us at FoRCE are thinking of Natalie and wishing her all the very best as she continues her treatment. We're looking forward to having you back with us, Natalie, whenever you're ready!

06/10/2026

🌿🏆 Fantastic news – FoRCE is officially Thriving! 🎉

💚 We’re absolutely delighted to share that Friends of Rochester Churchfields & Esplanade has achieved Level 4 out of five (with five being the highest) in the “It’s Your Neighbourhood” category of South & South East in Bloom 2026 – earning us a “Thriving” award! 💚
Back at the beginning of July, Peter Holman, Chair and Managing Trustee of South & South East in Bloom, came along to Churchfields and the Esplanade to meet some of our volunteers, have a look around and see what we’ve all been working on.
Our entry was assessed across three areas: Community Participation, Environmental Responsibility and Gardening Achievement.
🌿 This was our very first entry. We’re absolutely thrilled with the result and incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together! 🎉
On 25 September, Courtney and Jacques headed to RHS Wisley on behalf of FoRCE for the awards ceremony, joining around 200 people from community groups across the region. By all accounts, it was a brilliant day! 🌱
📜 We’ll also be displaying a copy of the award on our notice board on the Esplanade, near the castle and pier – so look out for it next time you’re passing!
💚 This fantastic achievement belongs to all of us – our regular volunteers and those who have only recently joined us, our members, friends, followers and everyone who has supported FoRCE along the way.
Every hour volunteered, every helping hand and every bit of support has played a part.
A huge thank you to you all – and congratulations, everyone! 🌿👏

03/10/2026

💚 A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for today’s FoRCE volunteer session!

Around 35 volunteers came along, many joining us for the very first time, and together we got an incredible amount done!

🌊 Les and volunteers from Cruising Club cleared a stretch of the river opposite the Cruising Club. Armed with the right equipment — and getting properly covered in mud along the way! — they pulled out all sorts of things that had been lying in the river for years, including five trolleys, cones and even an old bike!
🌿 Volunteers led by Elizabeth cleared the shoreline by the playground, while another group, led by Myra, got to work by Hathaway Court.
🪜 A group of cadets used a ladder to get down to the river roughly halfway along Esplanade Road, clearing that stretch as well as the area by the Rowing Club.
🌱 Over at the Suffrage Sensory Garden Rochester, Jo and a small group of volunteers gave the garden some care and attention, while Will and another group tackled the overgrown brambles at Hedgerow and dug trenches ready for new plants.
🧤 And across the Esplanade and Churchfilds, more volunteers were busy litter picking throughout our green spaces.
So much achieved in one session! A huge thank you again to everyone who came along and got stuck in. You were amazing! 💚

📅 Our next volunteer session is on 17 October.
Find out more here:https://esplanadefriends.org.uk/join-in/volunteer-activities?view=article&id=149:volunteer-activity-17th-october-2026&catid=40

02/10/2026

🌊 Tomorrow! 💚
FoRCE is heading out for a Foreshore Litter Pick! 🧤🌿
It’s surprising how many different things the tides and currents can bring onto the banks of the River Medway. Every volunteer session is a chance to make a real difference to this much-loved stretch of the river. 🌊
💚 Join us and help keep our riverside clean and cared for.
📍 Meet at: Children’s Play Area, Esplanade Gardens, Rochester, ME1 1QN
⏰ 10am tomorrow
👋 Everyone is welcome!
🧤 Equipment is provided.
👉 More information on our website: https://esplanadefriends.org.uk/join-in/volunteer-activities?view=article&id=150:volunteer-activity-3rd-october-2026&catid=40

📸 Photo from our archives.

30/09/2026

🎉 We’re now 1,250 strong here on Facebook!🎉
Today, a few new followers joined us, bringing our Facebook community to exactly 1,250! 🎉
A very warm welcome to all our new followers🤝, and a huge thank you to everyone who’s been with us for a while — for your comments, likes and shares. 💚 You help us spread the word about what we do and what we care about.
🌿 Fancy joining us in person? Our next volunteer session is this Saturday, 3 October, from 10am to 12pm — a Foreshore Litter Pick.
Everyone is welcome, so come along and help us make a difference to our local green spaces.
👉 Find out more and see the details here: https://esplanadefriends.org.uk/join-in/volunteer-activities

Photo from our archive, November 15, 2025

Address

Rochester
ME11QN

Website

http://esplanadefriends.org.uk/

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