DCF members are invited to the DCF Conference 2024
📅 Date: Thursday 24 October 2024
📍 Venue: Ocean Room, Weymouth Pavilion
⏰ When: Registration from 9.00am, presentations will start at 9.30am and finish by 4.30pm.
Join us for a day of insightful speakers, networking, and collaboration as we explore the theme of Dorset’s changing coast and its impacts on our communities, economies, and the environment.
Current challenges for the Dorset Coast: Delve into the pressing issues affecting our coastline with presentations from the Environment Agency and Shoreline Management Plan lead advisors for Dorset.
Positive Actions: A deep dive into key areas where proactive measures are addressing these challenges in Studland, Charmouth and North Swanage.
Connecting People to Coastal Change:
Hear from Saskia Elliott from the Jurassic Coast Trust on how to engage wider audiences, and
Participate in a workshop on communicating difficult conversations with coastal communities.
Hands-On Engagement Tools: Get practical experience with interactive tools for delivering essential coastal change information.
More details on the agenda to follow via email to our members! As always there will also be lots of networking opportunities with over 100 DCF members expected to attend, all with knowledge and expertise of Dorset’s coast.
General Information
Hot and cold buffet options will be available at lunchtime and drinks included in your ticket price.
Your name & contact details will be listed on the conference delegate list to be displayed at the conference and on our website or please let us know if you would like your contact details removed from the delegate list.
If you have any specific dietary or access requirements that we should be aware of, please contact us atdorset.coast@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
Early sign up is recommended as places are limited to 120.
Interactive Information Stands
In addition to the full day’s agenda of inspirational presentations and engaging workshop, there will be information stands from our sponsors and partners. Information stands this year will showcase innovative engagement tools (including DCF’s new wave tank) designed to engage coastal communities, research and technologies.
•DCF News •#CoastalInnovation •#CoastalConnection •#EnjoyTheCoast •#RespectTheCoast •#CoastalRecovery •Grants & Funding News •Save the Date – Conferences & Events
DCF News
Calling DCF members – Register now for the DCF Conference 2024! Join us on Thursday 24th October at the Ocean Room, Weymouth Pavilion the for a day of insightful speakers, networking, and collaboration. This year we explore the theme of Dorset’s changing coast and its impacts on our communities, economies, and the environment. In addition to the full day’s agenda of inspirational presentations and an engaging workshop, there will be information stands from our sponsors and partners. Information stands will showcase innovative engagement tools designed to engage coastal communities, research and technologies.
Dan testing our new wave tank, built by and big thanks to Weymouth Men’s Shed.
Next step – build the model flood defence structures! Watch this space ………
Future Studland Plan – survey now live!
After speaking to residents at our engagement events in early July, the Future Studland survey is now available for everyone to join the conservation! Whether you are a local resident, a visitor or someone who holds Studland close to your heart, this is an opportunity to shape the future of this beloved area. The insights gathered will shape the stewardship of Studland’s natural beauty and accessibility as part of a 20-50 year plan. Go to the project website to take part in the survey!
Studland Bay Marine Partnership The partnership are extremely encouraged that the boating season has started with a significant use of the eco-moorings available. Thank you to all boaters who are supporting marine conservation at Studland by adhering to the Voluntary No Anchor Zone. A range of permanent signage will be installed this month at local marinas and public boat launch sites to spread the word on how to enjoy Studland and protect the seagrass in Dorset’s largest seagrass meadow. Just a reminder to all that to enable the partnership to maintain and redeploy the eco-moorings each year, we ask boaters to pay to moor. Find out more at Pay to Moor and Donate to project. See also the project website for a list of events coming up over the next few months!
Following recent in person and online CTAP community events, led by Sara Parker in DCF and supported by Ross Fitzgerald Associate Director of Geomorphology at Jacobs, the project team are now working on short listing options for the Outline Business Case (OBC) informed by community feedback. We currently have a live survey asking people to rate the options. For more information and to sign up for updates, see our project page.
As part of engagement a survey (closed 31st July) asked the Charmouth community for their views on shortlisted options for the Outline Business Case (OBC) which will outline a plan on how the CTAP project in Charmouth will be delivered. These options have been developed from community and stakeholder input provided at recent engagement events. See project page for more information or to sign up for updates.
Left: Sara with Flooding Swanage with art artists, Andy Knill and Tom Phillips
We are delighted to announce that our community art project Flooding Swanage with Art come second with a Highly Commended in the community category of the EA’s Excellence Awards – Flood & Coast2024 ! Thank you to everyone who participated and well-done to Sara, the amazing artists and the Swanage community! You can view our submission on our DCF YouTube channel or here. Concept design proposals were shared at the recent Swanage Town Council Coastal Change & Beach Management Advisory Committee explaining scheme options and a potential final Preferred Option. Sara will be updating the project page with the latest developments and opportunities to engage with the Project Team. In July, the Environment Agency met with key stakeholders in the Lower High Street area to discuss proposals to change the configuration of the temporary wave barriers. For updates see our project page.
•DCF News •#CoastalInnovation •#CoastalConnection •#EnjoyTheCoast •#RespectTheCoast •#CoastalRecovery •Grants & Funding News •Save the Date – Conferences & Events
DCF News
Future Studland – Join the Conversation
DCF project officer Elaine and partners from the National Trust have launched the Future Studland Plan this week. Future Studland will span the peninsula from Shell Bay to Old Harry Rocks, and include the beaches, roads, services and habitats, as well as the village itself in a bid to write a holistic plan for the next 20-50 years. Early stages of engagement have included workshops with key stakeholders and local business tenants. In July there will be two drop ins at the Village Hall in Studland where residents and the public are invited to have their say.
Studland Bay Marine Partnership
The partnership is delighted to announce that installation of all 87 eco-moorings is now complete and are regularly being used by visitors coming to the bay by boat. In May, research and monitoring divers from the University of Southampton recorded and observed seagrass regrowth in the voluntary no anchor zone, a direct result of the benefits of eco-moorings. See the video on the website here
We continue to discuss challenges and opportunities for the programme with the community and with stakeholders. Our next event is online on Wednesday 19th June 7-8.15pm. Ross Fitzgerald Associate Director of Geomorphology at Jacobs will present more detail on coastal erosion, the CTAP programme and options for using the EA funding available as well as collating proposals from the community.
To book your place please contact sara.parker@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
To support development of the Outline Business Case (OBC), DCF led a stakeholder workshop and a public drop-in event, both of which were well attended. Thank you if you were able to attend one of these events! DCF have collected feedback on what is important to people, and how funding for adapting to coastal change can best benefit the community.
The project team are now working on shortlisting options for the OBC, incorporating feedback from the engagement events. DCF will be holding more engagement events as the project progresses. For more information, to sign up for updates, or to provide further comments on how you think the fund could be used, visit the project page.
We are working with Litter Free Dorset and have launched a new survey to discover how and where you spend your beach days. We want to know all about your top beach spots, favourite activities, and thoughts on litter and water cleanliness.
Your input will help to inform issues such as beach access, facilities and water quality monitoring in the future. So dive into our survey right now!
Save the date for the DCF Conference – 24 October 2024! #CoastalConnection Join us on the 24 October for an engaging and informative day at the Weymouth Pavilion. Our conference is tailored for our valued members and promises a line up of insightful presentations and networking opportunities. Look out for additional details and members will be sent your official invitation!
Staying safe on the Dorset Coast #RespectTheCoast Explore our new webpage where we offer essential guidance for safely and responsibly enjoying coastal activities, linking visitors to the appropriate expert websites. Thank you to Resort Dorset magazine for sharing these messages in Resort Dorset 2024 (p19-20) and on their website.
Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) #CoastalInnovation We’ve also launched a dedicated webpage that provides information on Dorset’s Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs), complete with direct links to the detailed plans available on the Environment Agency’s website.
Welcome to Elaine! We’re pleased to introduce Elaine Snow, our newest addition to the DCF team! Elaine has joined us this month as a Project Officer, focusing on projects in the Studland area. With her extensive background in delivering partnership projects across destination management, the charities sector, and events, Elaine brings a wealth of experience to our team. Check out our news updates for more details on the projects Elaine will be supporting.
Denys Brunsden(1936-2024) We would like to thank our members for your kind and thoughtful emails in response to the sad news reporting the passing of Denys Brunsden, who was one of the DCF co-founders in 1994. Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with Denys’s wife, family and friends.
