Walk With Us and Discover Your Beach of Dreams on Saturday 31st August

Join us in procession on Saturday 31st August from West St Leonards Lido to Hastings’ West Hill to celebrate the natural beauty and cultural heritage that make our coastline unique. Carry a beautiful hand-dyed pennant to plant in a breathtaking array overlooking the sea.

You may have already heard of Kinetika’s Beach of Dreams – and this is your chance to witness the spectacular launch of this exciting UK-wide coastal arts festival, exploring our ever-changing coastline, and find out how you can join MSL in showcasing the 30-mile stretch from Dungeness to Bulverhythe.

Up on the West Hill we’ll have maritime musical entertainment and an opportunity to meet Anders Lustgarten, our commissioned writer, who will be collecting stories of the coast.

We’ll also be running a workshop for all ages with Radiator Arts where you can design your own mini pennant to plant in our virtual beach, and Liban will there with their mobile catering van offering delicious refreshment options.

 If you love our coastline, you won’t want to miss out!

It starts with a small step…

• Just fancy a walk? This is for you! Walk with us on Saturday, 31st August and, who knows, you might just find yourself signing up to join in with the 3-day walking arts festival in May 2025 from Dungeness to Bulverhythe.
• Have a story to tell? We’re all ears! Walk with us and share your stories of growing up, living or working near the coast and how it has shaped you and yours.
• So come on down to West St Leonards on Saturday, 31st August; walk with us, talk with us, take a pledge to make a better world!

If you are still wondering if you can be involved, the answer is yes! This is for everyone. Email emma@mslprojects.co.uk to find out more or let us know you’re coming. 

About Beach of Dreams

Beach of Dreams is an unprecedented partnership of organisations across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the R of I, bringing residents together with artists, scientists and other communities to explore their ever changing local coastline, take part in music, art, writing, singing or other activities and create something together. 

MSL Projects is the lead for the 30 mile stretch of coast from Dungeness to Bulverhythe and our pledge is to make sure as many community groups and individuals as possible can be part of Beach of Dreams, creating their own activities throughout 2024, leading up to the big celebration in May/June 2025. 

We can’t do it without you

Do you have a story to tell inspired by your connection to the coast? Or a piece of the coast that means something particular to you?  Would you like to meet our writer?

Please get in touch with Helen: projects@mslprojects.co.uk to tell us you want to be involved, and we’ll make it happen.

We need you to spread the word too. We need as many local people as possible to join our writer over those three days. Tell all your friends, colleagues, local councillors and business owners to get in touch. Find out how to get involved in the national programme in May 2025.

Three-day extravaganza in May 2025

And this is where all our preparatory work, and your help, pays off in a programme of events from the evening of 29 May to dusk on Sunday 1 June 2025. Join us for the full walk or for parts of it by sea or air, or en route for public outdoor events for all ages and for evening tale telling and celebrations culminating with a dramatic programme of events on the beach at Bulverhythe at dusk on Sunday 1 June.

We’re putting it all together right now. So, if you want to be involved, if your group wants to put on an event, or if you want to suggest one, or a location, now, again, is the time to get in touch. Email emma@mslprojects.co.uk and let’s talk.

Let’s make an impression

We’re also putting a call out for images. Do you have a photo of the coast which you particularly love? Is there a vantage point along the Dungeness to Bulverhythe route that you think is particularly stunning? Did you capture wildlife, or some especially loved flora or fauna along the way?

Please share your thoughts and images of the most beautiful sections of coast with us too and we’ll endeavour to include them in our publicity along the way. Email them to Helen: projects@mslprojects.co.uk

Images: Jeff Pitcher, Kinetika, Tessa Bunney