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People are being encouraged to discover the hidden wildlife of the beach this summer. Dorset’s seashore is being increasingly recognised as a top site for many creatures, but there is still much to discover, says Dorset Wildlife Trust. Now DWT is launching a new group forvolunteers in the Weymouth and Portland area to help investigate intertidal and shallow water habitats as part of its 3-year Welly Zone Project, launched earlier this year.
What is the Welly Zone?
The Welly Zone - from the strandline at high water mark down to the shallows accessible by wellies - covers a range of different habitats with a huge variety of wildlife from marine to land-based species. Julie Hatcher, Marine Awareness Officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “The beach and the shallow water make up a very important habitat for both marine and terrestrial creatures. Volunteers can play a big part in discovering just what is living on our beaches and their help has already contributed to the consideration of the intertidal area from Lulworth to Swanage as one of the possible new marine conservation zones in the south-west.”
Wildlife on the seashore ranges from birds and mammals on the strandline to fish, crabs and anemones in the shallows, while the boulders of rocky beaches such as Kimmeridge and Osmington have been found to shelter rich wildlife communities, including clingfish, porcelain crabs, brittlestars, cushion stars, seasquirts and strawberry anemones.
How can I get involved?
Julie added: “Everybody can play a part in protecting the vulnerable beach wildlife this summer by taking litter home, leaving driftwood on the beach and not letting their dog disturb shore birds as they rest or feed. Beaches that are cleaned by hand using volunteer beach cleans are much richer in wildlife than those that are mechanically cleaned as this removes the habitat completely. We would encourage beach managers to consider hand-picking litter, which has been shown to be a cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative.”
The Weymouth and Portland Marine Volunteers group will be launched on Saturday 14th May from 10am to 1pm, one of a series of Wild about Weymouth and Portland events to encourage people to discover, enjoy and help conserve the borough’s wonderful natural environment. There will be a classroom session followed by a seashore discovery on the beach. Booking essential on 01929 481044.
Notes to Editor
For more information please contact Nicky Hoar at Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305 264620.
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About Dorset Wildlife Trust www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
Working for a secure future for Dorset’s wildlife enriching the quality of life Dorset Wildlife Trust works to champion wildlife and natural places, to engage and inspire people and to promote sustainable living. Founded in 1961, DWT is now the largest voluntary nature conservation organisation in Dorset, with over 25,000 members and over 40 nature reserves. Most are open daily and there are visitor centres providing a wealth of wildlife information at Brooklands Farm, Lorton Meadows, Kingcombe Meadows and Brownsea Island Nature Reserves, The Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and the Urban Wildlife Centre at Upton Heath Nature Reserve. DWT plays a key role in dealing with local environmental issues and leads the way in establishing the practices of sustainable development and engaging new audiences in conservation, particularly in the urban areas.
Read our Blog "Wildlife Matters"
Welly Zone Project
The project, funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s Sustainable Development Fund, aims to involve local people in finding out about the wildlife that relies on these special habitats along our coast, which are currently not set to be protected by proposed conservation plans.
The Welly Zone project will see volunteer groups set up along the coast, with identification and training sessions so that people can undertake regular recording and monitoring in their own time. Finds can range from pink seafan skeletons and mermaids’ purses to living sightings such as crabs and anemones in the shallows or shore birds feeding on insects on the strandline, all of which will be used to increase knowledge both of the habitats themselves and of wildlife further out to sea, adding to the marine biodiversity database.
Wild About Weymouth and Portland is a partnership project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund through Natural England’s Access to Nature programme, involving Dorset Wildlife Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Dorset Countryside (DCC) and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. The project aims to improve access in and between important wildlife sites in the borough and encourage local people and visitors to discover, enjoy and help conserve the wonderful natural environment of Weymouth and Portland.
Additional funding has been provided by Portland Gas Trust and the AONB.
The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) www.wildlifetrusts.org
There are 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK and the Isle of Man and Alderney. All are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone. We have more than 800,000 members including 150,000 members of our junior branch Wildlife Watch. Our vision is to create A Living Landscape and secure Living Seas. We manage around 2,300 nature reserves and every year we advise thousands of landowners and organisations on how to manage their land for wildlife. We also run marine conservation projects around the UK, collecting vital data on the state of our seas and celebrating our amazing marine wildlife. Every year we work with thousands of schools and our nature reserves and visitor centres receive millions of visitors. Each Wildlife Trust is working within its local communities to inspire people about the future of their area: their own Living Landscapes and Living Seas
Wildlife on your Seashore Code:
• TAKE YOUR LITTER HOME. Litter is a growing problem. Studies show that plastic
items can be eaten by birds and mammals. Tiny particles may even be eaten by sandhoppers
and enter the food chain.
• HELP WITH LOCAL BEACH CLEANS. Many sandy beaches are mechanically cleaned using
heavy machinery which compacts the sand and
removes the whole strandline, leaving nowhere for
wildlife to live. Hand-picking litter has been
shown to be a cost effective and
environmentally friendly alternative.
• LEAVE NATURAL DRIFTWOOD ON THE BEACH. Natural driftwood is important, especially for
strandline beetles.
• DON’T LET YOUR DOG CHASE SHORE BIRDS. Strandline birds need to feed fast before the tide comes in.
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