MAKE THE MOST OF THE COAST THIS SPRING

You can make the most of the spring on the coast by getting out and about on a range of activities on offer from the Thanet Coast Project.

If you want to do something to help our coastline, then why not join a spring beach clean. There are two tidal tidy ups on Saturday 31 March. The first clean-up starts at 10am in Pegwell Bay, meeting on the beach below the former hoverport road, Cliffsend. The second clean-up meets at 2pm outside ‘The Minnis’ in Birchington, and will clean beaches along the Northern Sea Wall beaches walking towards Reculver. Both clean ups last two and a half hours. Gloves, sticks and bags will be provided, thanks to support from Cummins Power Generation.

If you’re interested in fossils and would like to learn more about the story of our chalk cliffs, flints and fossils, then you can join the coastal guided walk in Kingsgate with the Rock Doc. For a small cost, you can reserve your place online at www.thanetcoast.org.uk and join the walk that starts at 11am outside the Fayreness Hotel. Spaces are limited and the walk is suitable for over 14s, and last for one to two hours.    

There are some egg case hunts with a difference taking place on the coast over the school break.  These are ‘scavenger hunts’ along our shoreline and will look out for clues of our sea life from under the waves, and in particular the egg cases of sharks and rays!  The hunt will finish with a chance to help create a marine art masterpiece on the beach.  You can join a Great Eggcase Hunt at Viking Bay, Broadstairs on Monday 2 April, Ramsgate Main Sands on Wednesday 4 April and Margate Main Sands on Tuesday 3 April and Thursday 5 April.  All hunts start at 2pm and the events last one and a half hours. The events are particularly suitable for 4-14 year olds. Although it’s free for Thanet residents, there is a charge of £2 per person for anyone from outside the district. Spaces are limited, and can only be reserved online at the Thanet Coast website.

There’s also a volunteer opportunity for some physical outdoor exercise, whilst helping to clean and tidy the Ramsgate Eastcliff's Sea Garden on Saturday 12 May, from 2pm to 5pm. This community space is below the Granville on the lower promenade and this task will benefit coastal plants, wildlife and people. Gloves, bags and tools will be provided, just wear old gardening type clothes and footwear.

Cllr. Iris Johnston, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “The Thanet Coast Project have arranged some interesting activities to appeal to anyone wanting to help or find out more about the nature of our coast this spring. They have activities for people to help keep our beaches clean, and have some novel ways to explore clues to what lurks beneath our waves! It’s a great way to find out more about the animals that live here and why our coastline is so important for wildlife.”

In addition to advertised events, the Thanet Coast Project and partners are running coastal activities for local community groups and schools to access the coast through the ‘Footprints in the Sands’ project.  Any groups interested in attending a specially run session around the coast or at the ‘coastal community beach hut’ in Margate should get in touch on 01843 577672. These events are run with support from Natural England’s Access to Nature programme through the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme.

To book on the spring events or for further information, visit www.thanetcoast.org.uk