thanet coast summer/autumn 2006 11 Project’s log Exploration is always high on our list of things Look out… to do and you can look for those elusive ‘hidden gems’ on the shore (pages 4 and 5). If you have some spare time, you could help out on the autumn beach cleans (page 7) or join our growing training programme of coastal volunteers (page 3). This really is the time to help take care of our marine environment. Nationally, the Government’s Marine Bill consultation will be looking at all the Willie McKnight, Coastal Warden Willie McKnight, Coastal for coastal fun! oin in with our activities J around the coast this summer and autumn. Look out for ‘SeaART’ – a special comments made on collaboration with local artists how we can improve showing how the sea and coast upon marine planning have influenced them or, especially and conserving our marine wildlife. for kids, bring the family along to Locally, we will be the Art Monkey’s ‘BeachART’ helping to produce a workshops at the popular summer new ‘Marine Wildlife seashore safaris (page 2). Watching Code’ (page 6) and looking at all the This autumn will be your chance stakeholder workshop to help on one of the largest comments to see how community sand drawings around, we will be managing our when the ‘BIG DRAW’ will help North East Kent coast over the next few years create a shoal of fish migrating (page 3). across the bay (see page 4). Tony Child See inside for shoals of activities for summer, autumn and winter too! Paul Keene, Avico Ltd Avico Keene, Paul FALL INTO A EVENTS… 2006 WF Sat 29 July, 9.30am (2hrs) UMMER EASHORE FUN Seashore Safari COASTAL S S ! Coastal Warden Corner Free. ‘Rockpool life’ – help us discover, observe and record oin two fun-filled hours of seashore he Coastal Warden Scheme will be what lurks between the tides EVENT! and join in with the BeachART J safaris and sand art with the Thanet T celebrating another successful year with Art Monkeys. Guided Walks, Cycle Coast Project, Kent Wildlife Trust and Gallery during its 2nd anniversary event in November. Minnis Bay (Birchington). Rides, Beach Cleans and IOTA’s Art Monkeys! Over 100 wardens are regularly out and about 01843 577672 (TCP/KWT) Family Events Most are not too physically The rockpooling safaris are one of the most in Thanet keeping a close eye on their adopted WF Mon 31 July, 10.30am (2hrs) demanding and would suit a popular events over the summer holidays and are bays – making our coastal volunteer scheme Seashore Safari Free (See 29 July) variety of ages – but please great fun for families with children between the one of the most popular in the country. West Bay (Westgate-on-Sea) check the details for each ages of five and thirteen. Explore the rockpools Volunteer Coastal Wardens monitor human and 01843 577672 (TCP/KWT) event, as longer events require more careful and help us identify the life in each of the bays wildlife activities around the coast and provide a WF Tues 1 August, 11am (2hrs) preparation. Always wear around our coast or be creative with the range of information for the Thanet Coast Project. Seashore Safari suitable clothing and shoes. accompanying BeachART. Please all wear suitable As well as detailed reports on coastal activities, Free (See 29 July) Bring drinks and sun- Joss Bay (Broadstairs) protective shoes for walking on the rocks, and wardens have snapped some colourful digital 01843 577672 (TCP/KWT) block/hats in hot weather. suitable clothing for the weather conditions on photographs, which are useful for illustrating WF Wed 2 Aug, 11am (2hrs) C – For cycle rides, please the day. The Safaris and BeachART are only incidents and activities and how individual bays Seashore Safari ensure your bike is possible with the help of our volunteers – so are changing over time. Free (See 29 July) roadworthy or the leader may please help us thank them for their support, along Earlier this year, wardens took part in a ‘Biotope Louisa Bay (Broadstairs) refuse to take you! We also 01843 577672 (TCP/KWT) recommend that riders wear with sponsors Pfizer and Thanet District Council. Survey Day’ at Dumpton Gap. The day was helmets and for children this organised by the Kent Wildlife Trust to trial a new WF Thurs 3 Aug, 11am (4hrs) Reculver Beach Party is compulsory. SUMMER SEASHORE way for recording the different types of wildlife on Free. Investigate the exposed B – For the practical events, our shores. Global Positioning System equipment Biotopes survey rock pools and sandy shore. gloves and bags will be SAFARIS 2006 Reculver Country Park provided. However, it is was used to build a grid map of the wildlife in 01622 662012 (Chas advisable to wear stout Dumpton Gap. Matthews, KWT) footwear and suitable Naomi Biggs, Thanet Coast Education Officer, Thanet Coastal Warden clothing (waterproofs/ A Sat 5 – Sun 13 Aug, 10am- said: “The wardens have been testing my marine Scheme Training 5pm (Thur-Fri 10am-8pm) windproofs, depending on life identification skills. Volunteers are increasingly Core modules ‘SeaArt’ – through the the weather) and bring a eyes of artists drink/snack. visiting rockpools to carry out shorelife surveys. • Shore Life Identification (Aug) Art by a selection of artists F – Some activities are Colourful photos of weird and wonderful sea • Induction (Nov) inspired by the coast and sea. particularly suitable for creatures have been flooding in, among them Gallery IOTA, Royal Esplanade, children and families, Ramsgate. 01843 577672 however children must be include pictures of squid eggs, chitons and grey Optional modules (TCP/Gallery IOTA) accompanied by a parent, or sea slugs – not exactly your average sealife! But • Contraband Corner (Sept) WG Sat 5 Aug, 2pm (2hrs) responsible adult, throughout it’s great as it means Wardens are getting so used • Archaeology of the Thanet Coast (Oct) Seaweeds and their Secrets the activity. to their patch they are exploring by themselves • Shorelife Special – Walpole Pool (Oct) Free. Join expert Dr Ian Tittley (Natural History Museum) for a What else? ? A variety of and learning new species all the time.” • Annual Warden Celebration Event (Nov) stroll along the coast to find events take place around our If you fancy volunteering as a Coastal Warden, • Turnstone Watch (Feb 07) out all you ever wanted to coastline, including regular call 01843 577409. know about seaweeds! Botany events at the Sandwich Bay For times see events listings Bay – meet by the chalk stack. Bird Observatory (01304 01843 577672 (TCP) 617341). For further O 5 - 6 August Margate’s information call into the Mardi Gras Thanet’s Visitor Information Carnival Weekend Centres 0870 2646111. The nature of our coast: 01843 293733 KEY WF Sun 6 Aug, 3.30pm (2hrs) A Art Related Seashore Safari Free (See 29 July) B Beach Clean/Practical ‘SeaART – through where have we got to? Botany Bay (Broadstairs) task 01843 577672 W Wildlife (Seashore/birds) the eyes of artists’ (TCP/KWT/RSPB) C Cycle Ride It’s been a busy year for the Thanet Coast Project and our coastal users F Family Event Sat 5 to Sun 13 Aug, Gallery IOTA WF Mon 7 Aug, 4.30pm (2hrs) G Guided Walk 10am-5pm, Thur-Fri 10am-8pm he main coastal user groups – were independently facilitated by Dialogue Seashore Safari Free (See 29 July) M Meetings or training View this summer exhibition of work by local artists representing the activities and interests Matters. By coming to the workshops, workshop T Winterstoke, East Cliff (north inspired by the coast and sea. In addition, there are along our coast – have been working with the stakeholders have helped to influence what will of Ramsgate’s Main Sands) O Other Events 01843 577672 (TCP/KWT) two late evening viewings when images of works, Coast Project to revise the North East Kent go into the next Scheme. They have looked at 1 Book Booking is essential. including artists commissioned by the Thanet Coast European marine sites Management Scheme. what has gone well and not so well in the past six C Tues 8 Aug, 10am (1 ⁄2hrs) Project, will be screened. Curator Ruth Cutler will This document sets out the major issues years, possible solutions and a range of actions Clifftop Cycle to SeaART KWT Kent Wildlife Trust Free. A leisurely bike ride MCS Marine Conservation be running children’s workshops on 27-28 July affecting our coastline and also how different and ideas for the next six years. The next step will along the Viking Coastal trail, Society (contact Gallery IOTA on 01843 853117 to book) groups of coastal users, such as fishermen, be to launch the revised scheme in the next few and a tour of the SeaArt exhibition at Gallery IOTA. TCP Thanet Coast Project and Art Monkeys will also be running BeachART on surfers, dog walkers and youth groups will work months, once an action plan to manage the coast Palm Bay to Ramsgate TCWS Thanet Coast Warden the foreshore at the same times as the above together with the Thanet Coast Project to protect for the next six years has been developed. Westcliff. Meet: Opposite Scheme Safaris throughout August. our unique coastline. For further information, contact Ingrid Chudleigh Palm Bay Primary School VIC Visitor Information 01843 577672 (TCP/Thanet Centre Three stakeholder workshops were held and at English Nature on 01233 812525. Cycle Forum) 2 3 EVENTS… his slimy looking creature (below) can be EVENTS… F Wed 9 Aug, 10am (5hrs) T found in a range of colourful shades, M Sun 20 Aug, TCWS Marine Madness including orange, green and even purple.