The Education Hub is our new go-to resource for coastal information and learning materials. It is designed to provide students and teachers at schools, colleges, and universities with access to a wealth of educational resources related to the Dorset coast, including:
Please take a look and share with your education teams and contacts.
Have you booked your ticket for the DCF Conference?
Don’t miss out, tickets are selling fast for this year’s conference on Thursday 24th October 2024 at the Weymouth Pavilion. We are delighted with the full agenda of inspiring speakers and workshop on communicating difficult conversations with coastal communities. Click on button below for the agenda, further conference details and ticket bookings.
New Education Hub!
We’re really excited to share with you our new Education Hub webpage on the DCF website. The Education Hub is our new go-to resource for coastal information and learning materials. It is designed to provide students and teachers at schools, colleges, and universities with access to a wealth of educational resources related to the Dorset coast. Please take a look and share with your education teams and contacts.
The new DCF wave tank’s first outing was a huge success
BCP Council used the tank at the Bournemouth Air Festival, engaging with over 1500 people! You can have a chance to have a play with the wave tank at the DCF Conference.
Early morning sea swimmers at East Beach West Bay
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| 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. |
| Book your ticket |
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! |
| Visit project website |
| 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! |
| Visit project website |
| Swanage Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP) |
| 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. |
| Visit project website |
Charmouth Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP) |
| 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. |
| Visit project website |
| Swanage Town Coastal Protection Scheme |
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| 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. |
| Visit project website |
Image: Water recreation clubs at North Beach, Swanage in May 2024 (credit Sara Parker)
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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
Swanage Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP)
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
Charmouth Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP)
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!
We will be popping up at various locations during the summer for in person engagement events.
Come down to say hi, complete the survey and have a chat with us about your favourite beaches. Events booked so far are:
Welcome to our April eNews update!
| 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. |
| DCF News FCERM Projects #EnjoyTheCoast #RespectTheCoast #CoastalInnovation #CoastalConnection #CoastalRecovery Grants & Funding News Save the Date – Conferences & Events |