Good Tidings

Good Tidings is a new artwork and ritual created by artists Simone Kenyon, Rebecca Lee, and Bethany Wells with the people of Sheppey.

Between the high and low tide on 9 August 2025, join us to create a community sculpture to mark the passing of time and tide and cast off good tidings for Sheppey.

A buoyant net, tethered between land and sea, will weave together voices, stories and history from the folk of Sheppey and be cast off on the tide.

Each hour from high tide at 13.32 the Tidal Dial will be moved down the beach, tracking the receding water till low tide at 19:32.

Come down on Saturday 9 August to learn a new community written song, traditional netting and knotting techniques, and contribute your voice and aspirations for the future to this collective ritual.

Part I: Rope Walk
12.00

Meet us at Sheerness Clock Tower and help carry our Tidal Dial through the streets and along the sea wall to the beach at Penny’s Cove. We need all hands on deck!

Part II: Tidal Dial
13.32 / 14:32 / 15:32 / 16:32 / 17:32 / 18:32

Our event begins with the anchoring of the rope and a musical welcome, followed by hourly activities led by members of the community, marking the receding tide. You can have a go at making a macrame net float, and offer your message of good tidings for Sheppey.

Help us to mark and celebrate all that is good with the folk of Sheppey. Keep an eye on this page for a full schedule for the afternoon.

Part III: Cast Off
19.32 

Join us for a final gathering to mark the low tide, as our collective contributions to the Tidal Dial are cast into the sea.

Good Tidings is a new artwork created by Simone Kenyon, Rebecca Lee, Bethany Wells and the people of Sheppey. Commissioned by Cement Fields and funded by Historic England’s Everyday Heritage grant programme, The National Lottery Community Fund, Arts Council England, and Kent County Council. With additional generous support from Sheppey Matters.