NEKMPA Coastal Wardens & Guardians e-News October to December 2018

Coastal Wardens & Guardians, ‘Autumn falls’ We hope that you enjoyed the long warm summer – and still have a chance to do the things on the coast that you want to do as Autumn sets in.

This Autumn still has plenty of things on offer – so please look through the list of activities, & book on ones that you would like to attend. There are still many extra events provided through the partnership project ‘Guardians of the Deep’ (GOTD) which many of you will have been trained through, thanks to support from the Heritage

Pic: Thanet Coast Project Volunteers-Joss Bay (after Seashore Safari, 15 Aug 2018) Lottery Fund.

A huge THANK YOU for all of you for volunteering your time. In particular, many of you put in extra hours to help – such as on this year’s public events and species folder! You have been helping at activities ranging from the summer exhibition (‘Seaweeds & their Secrets’ at Margate’s Visitor Information Centre) to the ever popular Seashore Safaris (always one of the year’s highlights!) to the superb production of a ‘Thanet Coast Species Information’ folder for children: These would not be possible without the enthusiastic and dedicated help that many of you have given - You are all STARS. (pic: young starfish from summer safaris)

NE Kent Coast – Activity Surveys In 2018, please survey by choosing one week day in the first week of the month (Monday is given as an example in these dates); and one weekend day in the 3rd weekend of the month (eg Saturday or Sunday; with the Saturday given as the example for this weekend). If you are unable to make a survey, please swap for the closest day that you can make for each survey! BUT, please do try to add dates for activities whenever you visit your bay - the more the better the information about your own bay!

Survey 1 = a weekday Survey 2 = Sat. or Sun. 1st full week each month, commencing A weekend day - 3rd weekend in Oct 2018 Mondays (as shown) & 2rd weekend Nov to Dec. Mon 1 Sat 20 October High tide 16:12 (4.9) High tide 09:21 (4.2) Mon 5 Sat 10 November High tide 09:27 (5.0) High tide 12:57 (5.2) Mon 2 Sat 8 December High tide 08:09 (4.6) High tide 12:02 (5.0)

Jan 2019 tbc tbc

Note: High Tides shown for Ramsgate shown with height of tide in brackets). Add 7mins = Broadstairs; 45mins = Margate. Tide tides for Herne Bay & Whitstable – please use links for tides on your online resource locker page at: http://nekmpa.org.uk/coastal-warden-survey/

Trainings and Events Listings:

Coastal Bird Identification on the Thanet Coast Sat 28 Sept, 1pm (2hrs) Drum Room, Margate Visitor Information Centre - Droit House, Margate Harbour CT9 1JD Indoor presentation on Thanet’s Coastal birds with Peter Findley, with a brief look at the coastal birds around the harbour area towards the end of the workshop - so please bring binoculars if you have any. Refreshments provided. Booking essential: [email protected]

Bumblebee Bulb Planting Sun 29 Sept, 10am (2hrs) - Sunken Garden, Westbrook The Sunken Garden Society, in conjunction with the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust, welcome volunteers to help plant spring bulbs in the sunken garden - with support from the ‘Making a Buzz for the Coast’ project. Tea & cake. https://www.facebook.com/events/270284323607992/

October 2018

Thanet Coastal Warden/Guardian - Introductory Training Tues 9 October, 2pm (3.5hrs) – Drum Rm, Margate VIC, Droit House, Margate Harbour CT9 1JD This training session is for new Coastal Wardens & take you through the features of international importance, the history of the North East Kent Marine Protected Area, the management scheme, your role as a coastal warden and how you can help through activity surveys, incident reporting and numerous other opportunities! Booking essential: [email protected] {NEW WARDENS or REFRESHER ONLY}

Plastic Unwrapped – What’s the problem? Fri 12 (schools only) & Sat 13 October (10am-3pm) - Nayland Rock Beach Shelter, Margate Session 1 of a series of 4 weekend workshops will cover everything you need to know about plastics. This first session covers ‘What’s the problem’ and will involve beach cleans (suitable for ages 8-108s!) More information: Discovery Planet {hyperlink}

Juvenile Fish Survey Workshop Fri 12 October, 10am 6 (6hrs) – Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory This workshop will be led by Steve Colclough, Institute of Marine Fisheries, & is ideal if you want to learn more about helping with juvenile fish surveys, particularly if you are in the Sandwich and Pegwell Bay area. It will include a presentations on surveys and techniques; followed by an outdoor field session to put into practice. You will need wellies & suitable warm/waterproof outdoor clothing. Please bring your own lunch. Spaces limited. Booking essential: [email protected].

Shoresearch – Swalecliffe, Long Rock Sun 14 October – book to receive details (approx. 3hrs) Lying between Whitstable and Herne Bay, Long Rock is a shingle spit on a base of hard clay. It is also of particular interest for its fossils. Last time we were here we found a number of different non-native species. Low water Margate:17:52, 0.5m. Wear sturdy waterproof walking boots/wellies,& bring weatherproof/warm clothing. Booking essential to receive health & safety; time & meet location: [email protected]

Peek Under the Waves - tidal pool viewing Thur 11 October, 7.30am (2hrs) - Walpole Tidal Pool, Cliftonville This is your chance to see some of our marine life – without putting on a wetsuit! The autumn maintenance of the tidal pool sluice gates gives us an opportunity to take a close look for the marine life within one of the largest artificial rockpools on the Thanet coast. Please wear Wellington boots (or waders) and be dressed for the weather conditions on the day (windproof/raincoat if windy or raining; layers of clothing if cold). Low tide is at 8:09 (0.7m). Please note: Please check closed facebook site/emails the night before the event, as these events have a high chance of cancellation if the sea or wind conditions are not suitable for maintenance. Booking (doodlepoll): https://doodle.com/poll/cxyz2dpf749x2zaq

‘Citizen Science on the Shore’ & social evening Wed 17 October, 7pm (2hrs) – Margate This informal session will be for volunteers to discuss all the various different ‘citizen science’ projects on the coast that you can get involved with – over a cup of tea & biscuits! Booking (doodlepoll): https://doodle.com/poll/cxyz2dpf749x2zaq

MARINElife Workshop - for GOTD Sat 20 October, All day - Tyland Barn, nr Maidstone (Kent Wildlife Trust's Visitor Centre) This workshop will provide training in whale, dolphin and seabird identification and provide detail on how you can volunteer as a ship-based researcher. MARINELife workshops usually cost £50pp, but registered Guardians have a superb discount & will only have to pay £20 - thanks support from HLF (For other people & KWT = link) Booking essential: [email protected]

‘Introduction to Marine Mammals’ – for GOTD Mon 22 October, 12pm - Queenborough Community Arts Centre, Sheppey. A workshop (20 places, 1.5hrs) with an introduction to whales, dolphins and seals, led by Zoe Stevenson (GOTD Officer) - followed by 3 hour boat trip (7 places – first come, first served, £25 refundable deposit) along the Swale Estuary to view the seal colonies. Booking essential: [email protected]

Practical: CoastBuster Tasks (see e-Xtra news) 12 Oct, 8am Ramsgate Harbour 13 Oct 8.15am Western Undercliff, Ramsgate 12 Oct, 8am Herne Bay Pier – please email [email protected] if you can attend 30 Oct, 8.45am Sheerness

November

Beach Clean at Pegwell Bay - Cliffsend Sat 3 Nov, 10am (2hrs) Help with this tidal tidy-up on the last of this year’s monthly litter pick & survey within the National Nature Reserve below the Hugin Viking Ship picnic area. Note: car park closed, so park on adjacent streets. More info: http://nekmpa.org.uk/how-to-help/beach-cleans/ Book: https://www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch/events

Shoresearch – Botany Bay, Broadstairs Sun 4 Nov (approx. 3hr) A survey of the area of chalk platform below the chalk stacks. An interesting site with plenty of brown seaweeds to rummage in and gullies to peer into. Afterwards we can warm up with a hot drink in the Botany Bay Hotel. (Low Water Margate: 15:20, 0.8m). Wear sturdy waterproof walking boots/wellies, & bring weatherproof/warm clothing. Please book to receive health & safety info; & receive time & meet location. Booking essential: [email protected] (01622 357876)

Guided Bird Walk with Simon Ginnaw – for GOTD Sat 24 November, 11:15am (2hrs) – Oare Marshes, Faversham. Simon Ginnaw is leading this coastal bird walk at Oare Marshes for Coastal Wardens/Guardians, timed to view the birds at the optimum state of the tide. The walk and site is great for both beginners and keen birders. Booking essential: [email protected]

NEKMPA Catch up – Species folder, feedback, future planning & social Wed 21 Nov, 7pm (2.5hrs) - Drum Room, Droit House (Margate VIC), Margate Harbour CT9 1JD This will be an informal evening to view the progress of the ‘species information folders’ produced by volunteers - as actioned at last year’s Annual Forum. It also includes time for your feedback on the 2018 year & comments on what you would like to see included within the plans for Coastal Warden/Guardian year 2019! Booking (doodlepoll): https://doodle.com/poll/cxyz2dpf749x2zaq

Annual Coastal Guardian & Warden Forum 2018 - GOTD PLEASE KEEP THE EVENING FREE: TBC = Thur 29 Nov – Sun Pier House, Chatham Booking Essential: Emails & Guardians Newsletter with details to follow!

Practical: CoastBuster Tasks (see e-Xtra news) 28 Nov, 8.30am Ramsgate Harbour 29 Nov, 9am Western Undercliff, Ramsgate 28 Nov, 8.45am Sheerness

December 2018

Christmas Lunch Special - for NEKMPA Coastal Wardens & Guardians Wed 19 Dec. 2:30pm The Smugglers, 212 Canterbury Rd, Birchington CT7 9AQ Join this informal pre-Christmas get-together over a superb Smuggler’s Christmas lunch – brought back by popular demand after last year’s successful first Christmas lunch & great organisational skills from Mandy! (£18.25 for two courses; or £23.25 for three with coffee; £5 deposit required) Menu: https://www.smugglersbirchington.co.uk/_resources/christmas-lunch-menu-2018.pdf Booking essential: register to attend at [email protected] and we will let Mandy know!

Practical: CoastBuster Tasks (see e-Xtra news) 28 Dec, 9am Western Undercliff, Ramsgate

e-Xtra e-Xtra e-Xtra – ‘Current News’:

Practical tasks: with the CoastBuster Teams (‘Non-native marine species project’) These practical sessions are led by volunteers, and currently tackle pacific oyster control in two teams – one within around East Kent mainly around Ramsgate Harbour and towards Pegwell Bay and the National Nature Reserve (led by Natural England) and other team along the North Kent coast (led by the Kent Wildlife Trust/GOTD). There is likely to be a new ‘Coastbuster’ training session’ in 2019, if enough people come forward, but in the meantime thet may be opportunities to join & learn at one of this year’s remaining tasks!

Anyone interested in joining either team can register their interest to get involved to us at: [email protected]

Volunteer Fair, Ramsgate (6 June) World Ocean Day – Walpole (8 June)

Cubs & Beavers – Stone Bay (11 June) Organising a Beach Clean – MCS (23 May)

Coastbusters tackle ‘wireweed’ Summer exhibition (25 July – 2 Sept)

Brownies Safari team – Minnis Bay (27 June) ‘Plasticus’ – Sky Ocean Rescue (26-27 July)

Pegwell Bay Great British Beach Clean Plum Pudding Beach Clean

‘Congratulations’: Terry Wilson’s Civic Award Westbrook Sunken Garden – revival!

Summer Seashore Safaris 2018 (more images on facebook)

The Asian Brush-Clawed crab (Hemigrapsus The superb ‘Shore life Information folder’ has taken takanoi) found in greatly increased numbers hours of research and editing – and was ready for along the north Thanet Coast (Minnis Bay, 2018) this year’s Seashore Safaris - thanks to Mandy & Julie’s coordination & with many volunteers inputting!

Guardians of the Deep We are now over half way through the Guardians of the Deep project! Can you believe it?! We can’t! This year has highlighted just how popular the projects outputs are.

WildBeach is now fully booked to the end of the project 2019. Schools have been spreading the word and making the most of the free marine education sessions. Next year we will also be focusing on training teachers and the school staff to lead their own marine education sessions, continuing to make the most of their local beaches.

We are still delivering WildBeach into October but will be switching our focus to Undersea Explorers for the winter. We already have two groups lined up in north east Kent as well as more throughout the county. I am looking forward to getting back into the pool again! Stall set up at Whitstable Harbours Day 2018

with our ‘Wish Fish’ GOTD had a busy summer of public events linking in with the famous seashore safaris on the Thanet coast. As well as attending the Kent County Show and Whitstable Harbour Day with our ‘wish fish’ where the public can make a pledge to protect the marine environment and add a scale to our fish. She always makes a big splash on the day! ba-dum-ch!

I hope all our Coastal Wardens / Guardians are feeling like one big hub-group after the efforts to make sure we are all linked up in north east Kent. Wardens and Guardians are all the same and anyone is welcome to join in the various workshop, event, etc. that GOTD hold. If you would like to receive the Guardians of the Deep newsletter, which covers upcoming events, workshop and updates then please head to our website and subscribe at the bottom of the page or get in touch and I will add you.

Any queries on GOTD please contact: [email protected]

guardiansofthedeep guardiansofthedeep web: guardiansofthedeep.org

For news & info’ to be keep up to date in NE Kent area, you can view our own social media links at:

www.facebook.com/nekmpa1 twitter.com/ThanetCoastProj

(The facebook site is public - so you don’t have to be a member to view these pages!)

We have a ‘closed group’ facebook page only for Coastal Wardens/Guardians for the ‘NE Kent’ area – so you can share, ask questions & talk to other local coastal wardens/guardians online:

CLOSED GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NEKMPACoastalWardens/

Background information can be found on our website:

nekmpa.org.uk

This includes current public events under ‘What’s on’, Nature conservation designations, Thanet Coastal Codes, or the Management Scheme. There are new pages set up for School trips and the new educational on-line toolkit; running beach cleans and for coastbusters;

Also exclusive to NE Kent, is your very own ‘Resource Locker’ - with links to online reporting & other information: http://nekmpa.org.uk/coastal-warden-survey/

Please do let us know if you would like to suggest anything else to be added that could be useful to other volunteers

Coming soon…. Over the winter we will be switching over to mail chimp to send out our newsletter and information. By using mail chimp we hope to be able to deliver a more professional looking email, which is still easy to read and navigate in order for you to make the most of the workshops and events.

To prevent any issues please ensure [email protected] is saved to your email contact list. So keep your eyes open for a New Year look!

We hope there is something of interest for you to join in with this autumn, and you have a good time looking after your adopted bay.

With thanks, Tony & Laura

Thanet Coast Project (NE Kent Marine Protected Area) web: nekmpa.org.uk

[email protected] 01843 577672

c/o Thanet Council, PO Box 9, Cecil Street, Margate, Kent CT9 1XZ www.thanet.gov.uk

nekmpa1 ThanetCoastProj

NEKMPA Coastal Warden/Guardian Events – Oct to December 2018 Quick Booking guide

Peek Under the Waves - Walpole Tidal Pool draining viewing Thur 11 Oct, 7.30am (2-3hrs) - Walpole

‘Citizen Science on the Shore’ & social Wed 17 Oct, 7pm (2hrs) - Margate

NEKMPA Catch up – species folder, future planning & social Wed 21 Nov, 7pm (2.5hrs) - Margate

Please indicate online if you are would like to attend any of the next 3 events at:

https://doodle.com/poll/cxyz2dpf749x2zaq

Other quick booking references this autumn:

Coastal Bird Identification 28 Sept, 1pm (2hrs) - Margate Book: [email protected]

Bumblebee Bulb Planting Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/270284323607992/

Thanet Coastal Warden/Guardian – Intro’ training Tues 9 Oct. 2pm (3.5hrs) - Margate Book: [email protected]

Plastic Unwrapped Sat 13 October (10am-3pm) - Margate More info: Discovery Planet {hyperlink}

Juvernile Fish Survey Workshop - GOTD Fri 12 October – Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Book: [email protected].

Shoresearch – Swalecliffe, Long Rock Sun 14 Oct, 9am (3-4hrs) Book: (before 2 Oct): [email protected]

MARINElife Workshop - GOTD Sat 20 Oct. Book: [email protected]

‘Introduction to Marine Mammals’ – GOTD Mon 22 Oct, 12pm – Queenborough. Book: [email protected]

Beach Clean at Pegwell Bay Sat 3 Nov, 10am Book: https://www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch/events

Annual Coastal Guardian & Warden Forum 2018 - GOTD TBC = Thur 29 Nov – Sun Pier Hse, Chatham. Booking Essential: Look out for Emails /Guardians News!

Christmas Lunch Special - for NEKMPA Coastal Wardens & Guardians Wed 19 Dec. 2:30pm (£18.25 or 323.25 - £5 deposit) Book: [email protected]

Key: underlined text means open to the general public