COAST volunteers were hard at work during the 2009 Arran Wildlife Festival last May, leading guided walks and boat trips, and giving presentations to the public and local schools.
The festival is based on the principles of conservation and education, and is a fantastic opportunity to get the COAST message across, explaining why it is so important to protect the marine life in Lamlash Bay. Although the No Take Zone is now in place, this constitutes only half the final plan for a Community Conservation Area, including the Marine Protected Area in the water adjacent to the NTZ. It is vital for COAST to continue to campaign and inform the public, and to hold the Scottish Government to their commitment to properly protect the bay.
Festival participants joined COAST leaders on trips to Holy Isle, in Lamlash Bay, for guided walks on the island with stunning views, and to find out more about the project. Groups received a warm welcome from the Samye Ling Community who have built a Centre for World Peace and Health at the northern end of the island. Back on Arran, Dr Sally Campbell led a seashore walk to discover the complex and sophisticated ecology of the intertidal zones, and the films Caught in Time, and The Bay, were presented as part of an evening with COAST hosted by the Auchrannie Hotel in Brodick.
COAST divers were hard at work during the festival, and obtained special permission to collect samples of sea life from the NTZ for a special boat trip in the Bay in partnership with RIB operators, Arran Power and Sail. The rapt audience of young people on board were able to view maerl and other life from the seabed first hand, in an on board aquarium. This trip was a unique opportunity to discover the incredible life of the bay without specialist diving skills and equipment. The sea life was returned safely to the No Take Zone afterwards!
Education is an important part of COAST’s work, and during the festival, COAST collaborated with local ranger services, and the Marine Conservation Society’s Cool Seas Roadshow to bring a special event to Arran’s children. Over two days, every child at primary school came to the roadshow, to encounter life size inflatable models of some the giants of the UK’s seas, and learn about the fantastic wildlife of Lamlash Bay through the film, The Bay. The event was partly funded by the Save our Seas Foundation, and sponsored by The Co-operative, Caledonian Macbrayne, Stagecoach, and The Auchrannie Hotel.
Looking ahead to the coming year, public events and educational activities will continue to be an important part of COAST’s work. The 2010 Wildlife Festival will be taking place between 12th -19th May. The festival owes much of its success to the support of volunteers and the COAST team will be busy delivering lots of special events throughout the week. Watch this space! If you would like to get involved or find out more please contact Lucy Wallace via email: eider@hotmail.co.uk. You can also check the wildlife festival website for details of the 2010 programme when it is launched in the new year: www.arranwildlife.co.uk