NEKMPA Coastal Warden’s Resource Locker

Coastal Warden News 2024

• E-Newsplash Summer 2024 – volunteering
• E-News: Summer Special 2024
• E-News: Spring 2024

(see old newsletters at the bottom of this webpage)

a) Coastal Incidents, and b) Wildlife or Strandings

This reporting mechanism allows for incidents and wildlife records to be sent in by volunteers – and allows for an image to be uploaded at the end (if you have a google account, otherwise, please email to us at: thanet.coast@thanet.gov.uk ).   Incidents are referred from the Thanet Coast Project to the appropriate agency or authority to be aware or deal with, & are used as the basis for informing the NEKMPA Advisory Group (NEKSCAG) & Management Group on what is going on around our coast.

• INCIDENT & WILDLIFE REPORTS {link}
  or use: https://tinyurl.com/incident19

There are two types of reports:

a) INCIDENTS [HUMAN based observation] eg pollution items, oil washed ashore; antisocial behaviour to shellfish-harvesting, fixed shore nets, large amounts of bycatch washed ashore etc.
or
b) WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS and STRANDINGS [WILDLIFE based observation] eg seals, harbour porpoise, jellyfish, or unusual finds on the beach that you have seen around the NE Kent coast (eg after cold weather or storms).

Whilst the date, time, location (& GPS) and type of record is important, please write a concise ‘note’ of the incident; followed by a longer ‘description’ (if needed) and any ‘further action’ you have taken (such as reporting anti-social activities to the police; people in distress to Coastguards, or live animal strandings to the BDMLR or RSPCA) – so we know if further action is required.

Please enter the GPS coordinates for a more precise location of your report. You can get these from Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps (or alternatives sites). To get these from Google maps, 1) LEFT Click on the location on the map; & then 2) CLICK on the ‘COORDINATE numbers’ shown in the tiny box which comes up , and 3) from the coordinates that appear on a large box, please COPY & PASTE these onto the form (but use the numbers only; without mentioned N & E)

Photos are extremely useful for verifying reports, observations, identification or location – helping organisations to response to an incident. Photographic files can be uploaded in this form, as long as you have a google account. Alternatively you can submit the form, and send images directly to us at: thanet.coast@thanet.org.uk [Please remember, NEVER put yourself in any danger taking photos especially if these may inflame a sensitive situation!]

GUIDANCE NOTES: please see pages 10 to 12 of the Introductory Coastal Wardens Training Notes (2023)

Surveys:   We are aiming for at least four surveys a month – please survey around HIGH & LOW tides by choosing two week days surveys (during that week starting on the Monday); and then for two weekend days   – you can choose your dates/times; & complete as many surveys as possible!

2 WEEKDAY SURVEYS (eg 1st full-weekend) – one HIGH tide, & one LOW tide

2 WEEKEND SURVEYS (eg 3rd weekend) – one HIGH tide, & one LOW tide time

Ramsgate tide times shown, HT = High Tide & LT = Low Tide.

2024  dates – click on image:

ACTIVITY SURVEY FORM – for on the coast (2020, PDF 250KB) – please click to view

GUIDANCE NOTES: See pages 3 to 9 of the Introductory Coastal Wardens Training Notes

Please submit your data by using the downloadable SPREADSHEET below and emailing them to thanet.coast@thanet.gov.uk

If you have google – Activity Survey data 2020 – Google {link}

If you don’t have google – Activity Survey data 2020 – NON-Google {link}

Please refer to the guidance notes on submitting the data. If you are unable to make a survey date/time, please just choose days that you can make! Try to add extra surveys whenever you visit your bay. The more surveys we have for your bay or stretch of coastline, the more analysis we can do at the end of the year.

Please remember: no action will be taken from comments or observations submitted in these reports, so if something needs NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH straight away (eg dead stranding; contamination on the beach; dumped rubbish; graffiti) you will NEED TO TELEPHONE or/& SEND AN INCIDENT REPORT – see next main heading above.

Health & Safety – Please see page 13 of the Introductory Coastal Wardens Training Notes; and Risk Assessment on pp18-21.

Here’s a link to view the list and maps of the adoptable sections around the North East Kent coast:

BAY REFERENCE LIST and MAPS (link) of Coastal Warden’s adopted bays.

Bay Reference numbers – Thanet Map (JPeg, 433KB):

© Crown copyright and database rights Ordnance Survey 100018261

• Ramsgate (month table);
• Broadstairs;
• Margate;
• Herne Bay;
• Whitstable

Here’s a copy of the notes/booklet you received at the introductory session:

• 2024 Introductory Training  for Coastal Wardens – booklet (PDF, 5.6MB)
• 2024 Introductory Coastal Warden Training – presentation (PDF, 17.2MB, Sat. 25 May & Wed. 12 June 2024)

• Beginner’s Introduction to Kent’s Shorelife – presentation 2 July 2024 (PDF, 29.8MB) Introduction to Kent’s Shorelife – presentation 2 July 2024 (PDF, 29.8MB)
• Beneath the Water – 22 species to report sightings of along the Kent Coast (5.3MB, PDF 15pp, NE, KWT, MSEP)

• See pages 26 & 27 of Introductory Coastal Wardens Training Notes
• Useful telephone numbers (CWs, 2023)
• GOTD Kent Coastal Contact Card – TCP (2020)*

*note: North East Kent Marine Protected Area (Thanet Coast) should read:
thanetcoast.org.uk/coastal-warden-resource

• Facebook (NEKMPA/TCP): https://www.facebook.com/nekmpa1
• Twitter (TCP): https://twitter.com/ThanetCoastProj
• Instagram (TCP): https://www.instagram.com/thanetcoastproject/

CLOSED FACEBOOK PAGE – For Coastal Wardens: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NEKMPACoastalWardens/

You can post your ‘images’ and talk to your fellow volunteers on this closed facebook page and share your finds, images, information, events, add comments & start discussions amongst fellow volunteers.