Sara from DCF and Flooding Swanage with artist Andy Knill Art celebrated a rescheduled Outdoor Classroom Day on 23rd in Swanage (due to Storm Ciaran and a yellow weather warning on 2 November!) with a combined total of 153 local pupils from Swanage Primary St George’s Primary School and St Mary’s. Learning about coastal flood protection on site where it happens, the pupils also learnt more about how the artists created their work.
Huge thanks to Andy – remember he starts the first of 4 FREE Talking Art Walk Swanage – monthly Talking Art Walks along the seafront meet at Andy’s studio on Commercial Rd at 11am. You can collect an art trail leaflet from Swanage Information Centre if you’d like to know more about the project
Everyone is invited to the Grand Opening Ceremony of the new art trail ‘Flooding Swanage with Art’ on Friday 3rd November. We will gather at Heritage Square at 3.30pm for a 4pm official opening by the Mayor of Swanage.
Currently, the Environment Agency install seasonal temporary defences to help protect the town from flooding during the winter months – you may know them as the ‘lego blocks’ but their official title is Legarto Blocks. Flood events are not just restricted to the winter season. With increasingly frequent storm events and rising sea levels, coastal engineers are currently working towards the provision of permanent flood protection for Swanage.
Dorset Coast Forum recognise that local Swanage schools and youth organisations will be interested in the project and the outcomes for Swanage both for coastal flood protection and public realm improvements.
We encourage inquisitive minds to get involved and will be celebrating Outdoor Classroom Day 2023 again on 2 November 2023 – with a guided tour of the new art trail installed along the temporary wave barriers in Swanage – the fourth free event of this kind we have hosted in Swanage.
Contact Sara to find out more about Outdoor Classroom Day, or to book an outreach session for your local organisation throughout the year.
Residents and visitors to Swanage can keep up to date with how the project is progressing by signing up to receive the Dorset Coast Forum regular quarterly newsletter dedicated to the projects we are supporting in Swanage, invites to community engagement events and details of consultation surveys.
meet at Andy’s studio on Commercial Rd at 11am. You can collect an art trail leaflet from Swanage Information Centre if you’d like to know more about the project 
