This event forms part of the Solent Seascape Project, an innovative marine project supported by the Endangered Landscapes Programme. The project is about restoring four of the Solent’s most important habitats: seagrass meadows, oyster reefs, saltmarsh and seabird nesting habitats. Your work on these surveys is invaluable to tracking change on our shores and providing long term data that helps to our conservation activities and supports our efforts to secure legal protections like Marine Conservation Zones.

Each survey lasts around three hours, and involves surveying a stretch of shoreline to identify and record marine species. We usually use the Shoresearch methodology in the form of walkover surveys.

You don’t need any special knowledge or experience to take part in our intertidal surveys, but you must be either over 18 or over 16 and accompanied by a participating parent or guardian. Dogs are not allowed on the survey.

You will be emailed a volunteer registration form and reminder email before the event. Please ensure you fill this form in and send back to us before the survey if you haven't registered with us before.

Any questions please get in touch : caitlin.woombs@hiwwt.org.uk before the survey.

WHAT TO BRING

- Warm, weatherproof clothing and a hat as many survey areas are exposed and can be windy.

- Sturdy (ideally waterproof) footwear with good ankle support.

- Sun protection and water if it's a sunny day.

- Washing up gloves if it's a cold day, for keeping your hands warm when rummaging in rockpools. There will be gloves provided if needed.

- A hand lens and guide to sea shore species if you have them.

- A camera or smartphone (switch on location services) for recording your finds.

- A drink and a snack.

Intertidal Survey - Freshwater