News 2008

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Wednesday 26th March

Life's a Beach for Dorset Wildlife Trust's Young Marine Wardens

An exciting opportunity for 15 lucky individuals is due to begin again at the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve this September.  Young people, from the age of 13, interested in the marine environment, and possibly considering it as a career, will gain knowledge and understanding of the topic and issues associated with marine conservation and wardening.

Funding, subsidised by Dorset Wildlife Trust, will allow for full training including marine biology, ecology and identification, through monthly sessions over the academic year.  This will develop confidence and ability to work alongside the present marine conservation officers based at the marine centre, Kimmeridge.  

And of course it won’t all be hard work!  There will be many fun activities on and off site and the opportunity to gain a PADI snorkelling qualification!

Please contact Emma Rance before May 30th 2008 on 01929 481044 or Kimmeridge@dorsetwildlife.co.uk for more details.

Tuesday 25th March

Although we experienced all weathers (including snow!) over the usual busy weekend, visitors still braved the outdoors to attend our annual Easter events. The Great Kimmeridge Egg Case Hunt and Marine Egg Hunt were held amid the cold northerly winds and a total 102 mermaids purses were uncovered over the two days whilst sifting through the strandline. In addition, a great number of seawash balls, lumpsucker eggs and periwinkle eggs were found upon the shore. For the Great Kimmeridge Egg Case Hunt all participants received a well deserved certificate of achievement courtesy of the Shark Trust. All records of mermaids purses are collected by this shark, skate and ray conservation charity to provide a national picture of these endangered populations.

Friday 21st March

HAPPY EASTER! The Marine centre is now open daily from 10am-5pm. If you want to contact a warden outside these times please leave a message on the answerphone or email on the details below.

Wednesday 12th March

Fancy gaining experience alongside the Kimmeridge Marine Wardens? We are seeking enthusiastic individuals to join the team in the running of the Marine Centre and activities in the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve over the forthcoming season March – September 2008. See the Dorset Wildlife Trust jobs section for more details.

Friday 7th March
Once again volunteers were called upon to help survey the dead pink seafan ‘skeletons’ cast ashore along a 600m stretch at Chesil Beach.  In total 240 seafans were collected, most of which were a lot fresher and closer to the water than in previous surveys.  In addition, an unusual finding of 278 parchment worm tubes added to the count.  This species of worm can reach lengths of 250mm and inhabits the sediment just below the surface in a u-shaped tunnel consisting of a tough, whitish coloured membrane. These worms are raked from the seabed, along with the scallops, in large numbers by scallop-dredges in Lyme Bay.  

Wednesday 5th March

Spring cleaning of the fish tanks is currently underway in time for the Easter holiday and species kept over the summer have been released back into the bay. New theming will be collected for inside the tanks and some fun rockpooling times are beckoning throughout the low Equinox tides.

Monday 25th February

The K Team studied Elasmobranches (sharks, skate and rays) during their monthly session; researching into their biology, habitats and conservation measures. Afterwards, a trip out under gloomy skies onto the shore for a Mermaids purse (shark and ray egg case) hunt on the strandline.

The day was finsihed with the MarLIN Shore Thing survey; recording species and their numbers within marked quadrats upon The Flats. This survey is a national project to locate and monitor climate indicator species around the coastline. Over time the results will allow us to understand what part climatic changes are having upon particular species populations and habitats.

Monday 11th February

We have now reinstalled our temporary limpet fences on The Flats.  These small mesh fences are a demonstration to show the importance of the herbivorous limpet in their control of algae through grazing.  The fences restrict the limpets and therefore allow colonisation of several algal species which will be monitored fortnightly through fixed-point photography.
Through the use of these fences visitors appreciate the role of the limpet and will hopefully think again before removing these long lived gastropods. 

Saturday 9th February

The new band of 20 Volunteer Marine Wardens attended their first training session today at Mupe Bay.  Fantastic weather allowed for a very enjoyable start to their marine identification.  Mermaids purses were in abundance; 18 Blonde Ray, 8 Spotted Ray, 3 Thornback Ray and 2 Lesser Spotted Dogfish egg cases and lots of Thongweed buttons,  Toothed Topshells and a couple of Strawberry Anemones.

The day was finished with a beach clean which collected 107kg.

Wednesday 30th January

Two schools through Leeson House came over to Kimmeridge with a strong conservation theme.  The 75 strong group learnt about marine litter and its impact on the environment before collecting 117kg from Stink Corner.  Although the litter doesn’t look and smell too nice at times, the children, armed with gloves were extremely keen to help the local wildlife. The area certainly looked a lot cleaner afterwards!

Thursday 24th January

The centre aquaria has started its annual makeover where the wardens clean out and re-theme the tanks.  It’s a great opportunity to have an excuse to go rockpooling!  Despite the winter temperatures, there’s plenty of life about!

Sunday 20th January

The K team once again gathered together for their monthly session, this time learning all about cetaceans and sea birds at Durlston Country Park.  The Marine Ranger hosted the day and events included biology, anatomy and identification if various common species through photos and cliff bird watching.  There were even games played to help the group understand the power of echolocation; the process in which dolphins navigate and feed and a mock stranding to experience important data collecting from washed up mammals.

Sunday 13th January

Our New Year beach clean was very well attended with an amazing 45 people turning up to remove litter from Worbarrow Bay!  In total a mere 340kg was collected which mostly contained small plastic pieces, cotton bud sticks and bottle tops.  Thanks to everyone who attended.  Information on forthcoming beachcleans within the Reserve can be obtained under our Events page.

HAPPY NEW YEAR from the PMWR Wardens!

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