Wye Celebrates

Wye celebrated the coronation of King Charles III informally. The Parish Council invited all residents and their families to Churchfield Green Monday 8th May to celebrate with a community Picnic, followed by the May Fair. Wye Crown looked at its best with a fresh coat of lime wash for the occasion.

Wye celebrated The Queen's Platinum Jubilee with a series of community events between Thursday 2nd and Sunday 5th June 2022. Wye Crown gleamed white with a fresh coat of lime wash. The Parish Council invited every household in the parish to take part in the celebrations and organised a drone video (link above) to record the Street Party in full swing.

In summary, Wye Celebrates started with a community beacon lighting ceremony on Churchfield Green on Thursday 2nd June, and a second beacon above Wye Crown for all to see alight on one of the highest points in Kent. On Friday 3rd June Church Street closed to traffic for a Street Party between 12.00 noon and 14.00, and there were family picnics on The Green. On Saturday 4th June, there was a Farmers Jubilee Market on The Green between 09.00 and 12.00.

Finally, celebrations to mark this historic occasion ended in Wye church with a special Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving on Sunday 5th June. Although all these events were informal, the Parish Council encouraged residents to wear red white and blue to add to the visual spectacle.

Wye's community beacon was one of the national chain that all light together at 21.45 as a symbol of unity. Wye also lit a second beacon above Wye Crown which could be seen for many miles across Kent.

The Parish Council planted a specimen English oak (Quercus robur) Wye's contribution to the Queen's Green Canopy initiative. In time the oak tree, raised nearby at Palmstead Nursery, will grow to form a living legacy.

The Cantii Way launched 26th May 2022 to honour the The Queen, who is patron of Cycling UK. This new 145 mile cycle route opened ust in time for the long Jubilee weekend. The Cantii Way is a circular 145 mile cycle route that starts and ends in Wye. The route passes Wye Crown, a prominent chalk carving cut by hand into the North Downs by students of Wye College to celebrate the coronation of Edward VII in 1902.

The Cantii Way, 60% of which is off-road, aims to develop sustainable all-year-round tourism. The North Downs Way national trail, National Cycle Route 18 and the Stour Valley Walk all converge in Wye. All these routes attract walkers and cyclists to Wye, who in turn support the shops, pubs, cafés, restaurants and accommodation providers.