The story of the development of nineteenth-century “People’s Parks" in major industrial cities is relatively familiar, however semi-rural regions like Swale in north Kent, are less well-documented. Recent research by the Kent Gardens Trust in this area included public parks, cemeteries, former gunpowder works and a medieval moated site. The talk presents the findings of this research which revealed fascinating histories that link the provision of green spaces to the social and economic history of places including Sheppey, Sittingbourne and Faversham.