The Bay Trust

The Brief

The Bay Trust is an environmental education charity based in St. Margaret’s Bay, Kent, offering learning through nature experiences at the stunning Pines Gardens site. Their existing WordPress website hadn’t been updated or managed in a few years and needed a refresh to better reflect their eco-friendly mission and improve accessibility for the wide range of visitors they welcome; from school groups to holiday guests and venue hire clients.

Research & Approach

I visited the Bay Trust for an in-person discussion and reviewed the existing webstite alongside comparable charity and education organisations across Kent to identify where the user experience was falling short. Key issues included unclear navigation between the trust’s different offerings; learning programmes, venue hire at The Pines Calyx, public cafe & gardens, and accommodation  options on AirBnB – and a visual identity that didn’t reflect the quality of the site itself. This informed a redesign focused on intuitive structure and a nature-inspired aesthetic that feels true to Kent’s coastal landscape.

Design & Build

Working in Elementor, I redesigned the site around a warm, natural colour palette with clear pathways for each audience. Whether someone is looking to book a school visit, hire The Pines Calyx for an event, or explore accommodation, they can find what they need quickly. Accessibility was a priority throughout – the site meets WCAG AA standards, supporting the charity’s inclusive approach to environmental education and ensuring it works for everyone.

The Result

The refreshed site captures The Bay Trust’s deep connection to the Kent coastline while doing a much better job of driving enquiries and bookings through clear calls to action and streamlined user journeys. For a charity juggling multiple audiences and offerings, having a website that handles that complexity simply is essential.

Client: The Bay Trust
Year: 2023 -2025
Sector: Charity
Location: East Kent
Website: www.thebaytrust.org.uk