Sustainable Swanage are offering 2 morning training sessions and we are fortunate to have the skills of Lindsay Carrington, an ecological consultant and trainer based in Purbeck, who will deliver the sessions. The training will include an introduction to common plant families and you will learn how to identify familiar meadow plants. Lindsay will cover how we can record them on a simple walk through survey and record their abundance on a simple scale. The sessions will be held at the Downs on the following dates:
10th May 10-12pm
21st June 10-12pm
Attendance on both would be preferred as there will be different plants to spot. Once you have completed the training, all that we ask is that you are able to take part in at least one survey a month as we carry out monthly surveys during the summer at several sites across the town. This can be done in pairs or small groups. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the plants that you see on your walks and to also contribute to safeguarding and enhancing the wildlife that we enjoy
More detail:
Since 2020 Sustainable Swanage have been working with Swanage Town Council to carry out wildlife surveys of their sites across town. This is one of the targets in their Environment Action Plan to carry out biodiversity audits of sites and also to monitor wildlife in order to evaluate success of management and contribute to management plans.
Following the success of the butterfly training programme started in 2021, where 12 volunteers have been learning how to survey butterflies and are now helping to monitor populations on the Downs and other sites in the town, we would like to recruit some volunteers to help with wildflower surveys. This is suitable for complete beginners as we will provide training and ongoing learning through walks and joint surveys.
If you are interested in getting involved and would like more information or to discuss over the phone, don’t hesitate to give me a call. If you cannot make those dates but are still interested just get in touch with Sarah Spurling - Sustainable Swanage Project Officer
Phone: +44 (01305) 224731 or mobile: 07387 645681
