News & Events

Swanage Town Centre Flood Defences
DCF will be hosting a key stakeholder engagement event this month for Swanage Town Centre Flood Defences. This initial stage of engagement is targeted at Swanage residents, businesses and organisations located along the seafront who are directly impacted by flooding events and the proposed flood defences.

Studland Bay Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ)
The two engagements events held in March on the proposed management measure for Studland Bay Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) were well attended and large range of feedback has been received on the MMO proposed management measures for the bay’s MCZ. This feedback is currently being reviewed by the MMO and the next stage engagement will be announced when confirmed.

Dorset Coast Strategy Survey
Thank you to our members who completed the Dorset Coast Strategy survey. The DCF Steering Group are meeting in April and the survey results will be discussed and to start to plan how the next Dorset Coast Strategy will develop.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Development 

Why Southwest England is emerging as a hotbed of aquacultural innovation
Martin has written a short Q&A article for The Fish Site highlighting the work in the aquaculture sector over the last few years. Read here

The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS)
The MMO have released details of the new national funding programme for fisheries, aquaculture and seafood – the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS). Martin is available to help people with project development, form filling and applications for the fund. If you, or anyone you know of, would like some help applying for funding please contact him via e-mail at martin.sutcliffe@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or call 01305224766. Remember this is a free service!

South West Aquaculture Network (SWAN)
The next SWAN meeting is on April 20th via Zoom at 1pm. Again, there is a packed agenda with companies from the aquaculture technology presenting how they can help reduce environmental impacts from aquaculture and improve production techniques, while reducing carbon demands. If you would like to attend, please email Martin.

ARCH-UK South West webinar
Martin will be presenting at the upcoming ARCH-UK South West webinar on April 21st starting at 9:30am. If you want to attend you can sign up via this link

Water quality on shellfish beds
Working with a local shellfish producer and a food chemical company, we are looking at some of the issues effecting water quality on shellfish beds. It’s early days, but trials are due to commence that could be a game changer for the sector. Watch this space!

Dorset LEP One Health conference – Big Ideas in One Health
On March 24^th, Martin presented at the Dorset LEP One Health conference – Big Ideas in One Health. This was the third year running this event has highlighted how animal health can be linked to human and environmental health. There is more information on the LEP website here.

Litter Free Coast & Sea (LFCS)

Lulworth Litter Action Group
Lulworth litter action group has been set up by Litter Free Coast and Sea to co-ordinate action between community members and the Lulworth Estate. The group includes Cllr Laura Miller, the Lulworth Litter Scouts Group and community members from local parishes.  We have also co-designed some new Lulworth signage to be deployed to set the tone for responsible behaviour and highlight the location of the toilets and bins, including where the last facilities are before getting to the beach.

Sandsfoot area campaign 
Litter Free Coast and Sea are working together with the community in the Sandsfoot Castle area on a campaign to celebrate the local beaches and clean bathing water: “Clean streets, cleans seas”. As part of this project, we have sent a brief out for artists submissions to create a welcome mural to visitors at the Sandsfoot Castle beach that adjoins the Castle Cove Sailing Club.

Love Your Harbour
The Love Your Harbour campaign is being relaunched for this spring/summer season. Three #LoveYourHarbour wobble board signs are now at Poole Marinas (Pool Quay Boat Haven and Cobbs Quay Marina). Keep an eye out for our social media posts highlighting the importance of responsible waste disposal when at sea to reduce pollution in our harbours.

Sustainable Swanage

As part of the Improving Greenspaces initiative, buds are soon to blossom on the 64 new trees planted on public land in Swanage this winter by Sustainable Swanage, Swanage Town Council and Dorset Council. The different species of trees planted will soon come out in bud at different times, it’s fun to watch so keep an eye on them!

In March Sustainable Swanage, supported by Swanage Town Council and other local organisations, highlighted a partnership initiative with Solar Streets, promoting the installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels by households and businesses in Swanage and the surrounding villages. Find out more about the scheme and a recording of the launch here