Two exciting Blue Flag educational initiatives are about to be launched in Ventnor. It’s all part of the drive for Ventnor to gain Blue Flag status (we’ll be able to give you more news on that soon).
The Ventnor Partnership (which is a sub-set of the Ventnor Town Council) has joined forces with the Isle Wight Council’s Coastal Visitors Centre (CVC) to devise two valuable surveys, that will not only help discover how the beaches are used and can be improved, but will be a great educational tool for any children or young people who get involved.
It is hoped that residents, visitors and schools will help complete the surveys, one of which is on Beach Use and other on Rock Pool Habitat.
What are they all about?
The Beach Use Survey will cover Ventnor Beach, Ventnor Haven, Steephill Cove and Monks Bay in Bonchurch.
The idea is to get willing participants to pick up the pre-printed tally sheets from the Coastal Visitors Centre, Ventnor Lifeguard Hut or The Ventnorian and then record the weather, time, day, month and a short tally of what people are doing in the area.
The Rock Pool Habitat Survey will map seasonal changes in the rock pool life below La Falaise Car Park and at Bonchurch, noting the weather and the number of animals of different species spotted.
What Happens to Survey Data?
The Ventnor Partnership are going to be analysing data of the beach usage, as part of the ongoing five year town health check and feed that through to the CVC.
Data from the Rock Pool mapping will be gathered directly by the CVC.
How to get involved
All you have to do is pick up survey form from either the CVC in Dudley Road, the Library or The Ventnorian in Spring Hill.
Next time you’re at the beach take the form with you and jot down what you see and drop it in with either the Lifeguards, the CVC or the Library.
Both surveys will run for an indefinite period of time, so you’ve plenty of time to take part.
