Thanks to Claire for sharing this report from the weekend’s event in Ryde. Ed
Despite the drizzle, there was a fantastic turn-out of rockpoolers or rather sandpoolers with around 150 Ryde residents, tourists, scooter rallyists, fishermen, artists, ecologists and even a princess spending the afternoon exploring the multi-faceted world that has formed on and amongst the Pier’s struts.
Ian Boyd from Arc was on hand to help everyone explore and to identify their discoveries while back at UTP HQ on the beach, Tina Whitmore recorded the list of species found and artist Nigel George, from Eccleston George, showed us how to make weird and wonderful sea-art sculptures by sand-casting in plaster.
Beautifully decorated pier
The Pier was decorated with sea-creature art and bunting created by Spectrum’s Active Kids club at Slade Road and the children at Ryde Library with the artist Ian Whitmore & Spectrum’s Lisa Toyne. Some of the young artists came along on the day to see their art on display.
Ian explains the draw,
“It’s truly awe-inspiring to discover just how many species have colonised the metal infrastructure of Ryde Pier over the 200 hundred years of its history. We found leathery sea squirts hanging from cross bars, beadlet anemones are all around the verticals, and you can see daisy anemones dotting the sand in between.
“Even the crabs you discover under the pier are somehow more fascinating than on your average day crabbing – spindle-legged Spider crabs who accessorize themselves with algae and weed and the mythical Masked crab with its very long narwhal-like nose – this was a really amazing find. And of course right at the end of the Pier are the sponges… vertical gardens of globular-looking colour.
“The best thing is it’s all there waiting to be rediscovered next time the sea rolls back! It’s a whole colourful and wonderful world that you can discover for free at every low tide. Just remember not to disturb anything too much and prepare to be amazed!”
Maria Wilkinson, Spectrum Housing Group’s Community Investment Manager said,
“We sponsor Under the Pier as part of our Natural Wight project which aims to encourage people to explore nature on their doorstep – all this marine wildlife is literally there to be discovered just yards from Ryde’s busy streets… on all our doorsteps.”
The HIWWT run the excellent Shoresearch programme all around the Island. For more details visit the Website. All our results will be fed through for their records and donations from the day sent through too.
More pictures of the day here, look out for an update on the species found!
Thanks to Karen Woods and the team at Wightlink for letting us decorate the Pier!
Images: © Ian Boyd
