Shoresearch Project
Our shorelines are critical to the local marine environment, playing host to many different species of wildlife and plants. Shoresearch is our recording and surveying project in which volunteers identify and record the habitats and wildlife that exist along our coastline. This is an excellent way to understand and help protect our local shores – and any anyone can get involved. Shoresearch is also run in other parts of the South East.
Why we need Shoresearch
We cannot see everything that goes on around our coasts - volunteers are our eyes and ears on the seashore, helping us to gather information from many more areas than we would otherwise be able to. With your help we are better able to understand, manage and conserve these fascinating habitats, and give early warning of any threats to local marine life.
Volunteers help us to:
- Raise awareness of the importance of our coastline.
- Increase our overall knowledge and understanding of marine wildlife on a national and local level.
- Identify the county’s most important habitats, species and local sites.
- Establish any potential areas of local interest or conflict.
- Make conservation decisions, set priorities and influence local developments.
- Monitor changes over time – focusing on climate change indicator species, non-native species and Biodiversity Action Plan species and habitats.
What are Shoresearch surveys
The surveys are very straightforward and are always carried out at low tide so as much of the shore is exposed as possible. The map shows the sites we surveyed in 2010. The surveys take under 2 hours to complete and have three parts
- 1. Site and recorder information.
- 2. Transects up the shore.
- 3. Biodiversity search.
Click to download a copy our 2010 Shoresearch Newsletter.
The timed species search uses the methodology developed by MarLIN's The Shore Thing Project to look for the presence of certain species, especially those that indicate the effects of climate change. This project is running at a number of sites around the UK but they need more data from our area to investigate how species are spreading or changing their range in response to climate change.
How to take part in Shoresearch surveys
To join our expanding group of marine life enthusiasts on a survey all you need to do is book on to the survey you’d like to attend so we know you're coming and then turn up on the day. You do not need to have any knowledge of marine life before taking part in Shoresearch as there will be experts on hand to help with identification.
However, we do run a training course in March/April each year which is an excellent way to learn more about Shoresearch, our methods, and the sort of things you're likely to see. In 2011 we also held two specialist ID courses for people wanting to get to grips with seaweeds and sponge ID in more detail than is possible on shore during surveys. Our survey season has now finished for 2011 (it usually runs between March/April and September/October) but we’ll be advertising our surveys and courses for 2012 in the new year. In the meantime, why not join our mailing list? (see below).
Join our Mailing List
If you’d like to be put on our Shoresearch mailing list to receive our end-of-season newsletter and email notification of upcoming Shoresearch events and other marine conservation events that may be of interest to you), please email shoresearch@hwt.org.uk. Alternatively, contact our Marine Officer Amy Dale on AmyD@hwt.org.uk or 01489 774444.
How to book
For most surveys all you need to do to book on the survey is fill in a booking form and send it in to us. We’ll provide more information on how to book once we’ve advertised our 2012 Shoresearch course and survey dates.
Courses and Surveys 2011
Unfortunately, all our courses and surveys for our 2011 Shoresearch season have now taken place. We’ll be organising more courses and surveys for next year and these will be advertised once they’ve been finalised. We hope you can come along to some of them!
