REECE & SUNNY'S ROVING REPORTS - Living Seas Wildlife Trail launch
Last week I had the privilege of attending this event that was launched at Rossall Point Watch Tower. I spoke with the people that had co-ordinated the event and also assisted with the design of the trail, one of these people is Rachel Glascott of The Bay Project, she explained exactly what the trail is about.
The trail goes all the way from Rossall Hospital Car Park to the Marine Boating Lake, the aim of the trail is to help people appreciate what is in Morecambe Bay. It is very difficult at times, to admire the differing species of things in the Bay when all you can see is muddy water. The trail highlights 18 different species from flowers, insects, birds and marine life including the seals that life off our shoreline. Each species has its own disc along the trail which has a QR code that when you scan it, it will take you to a website that will tell you more about the trail and give more information about the image you are looking at. We hope that people will use the trail to educate themselves and have fun whilst being active, as we know that people are outside and active whilst connecting to nature does improve a person’s health and wellbeing.
However, some of the trail does go over the sand dunes and there is a stile that you need to climb over, so sadly not all of the trail can be enjoyed by those of us that have mobility issues but the majority of the trail can be enjoyed as it goes along the promenade in Fleetwood. The trail is approximately two and a half miles long and there with maps scattered about along the trail marking out where you should be heading, with leaflets that will be available in the near future.
As it was a launch event there were many different organisations attending, one of these was Alison Bowden, who is Wyre Council’s Coast and Countryside Manager, which means she gets involved with the volunteer rangers and volunteer walk leaders, who all help people to enjoy the nature around them in the Wyre area and support projects like the Living Sea Wildlife Trail, her aspirations for this trail is to inspire people to look at the information that is out there on the promenade or at Rossall Point Tower and help them realise what we have here living within Morecambe Bay, also what they can do to help improve the area. Alison also wants to find ways to enhance the trail for the people that use it and possibly make it easier for them as well as spreading the word about Fleetwood’s Living Sea’s Wildlife Trail.
Sunny and I enjoyed the launch of this Trail at Rossall Point, we got to meet many people that really do care for the Morecambe Bay Area. We also got to learn of the other projects going on in Morecambe Bay. Some of which I am really excited about, as I am sure Sunny would be when its finally completed.
We also enjoyed the walk from the tower to the boating lake and finally mastering all this QR code scanning business thanks to somebody showing me how it’s done. The information that you receive about the species along the trail is also very good. I managed to do most of the trail in my wheelchair, maybe one day I might be able to complete the whole trail but for now Sunny and I will enjoy it as much as we can, we also enjoyed being at the watch tower, seeing all the exhibits that they have in the ground floor area. However, we did have some disappointment on the day, the watch tower is quite a new building but there is no wheelchair access to the upper floors, as people came down, they told me what was up there, but I did feel as though I was missing out. The disappointment didn’t end there, the camera that has been installed to be used by those with mobility issues to see what the view from the roof of the building wasn’t working, it was actually broken, so I wasn’t able to see anything on the day.
However, that being said the event as a whole was enjoyable for both of us, and I would encourage people to enjoy the trail with their families at least once this summer. Sunny and I look forward to doing more of the trail soon.
The Bay Project has various events coming up in the near future including ...
Tuesday 13th August, 11am - 12.30pm ... Shoresearch - walk along the strandline to see what creatures can be found that live in the irish Sea. Meet at the sunken car park off the Esplanade, opposite Dronsfield Road. All ages - children to be accompanied by an adult.
Thursday 22nd August, 7.30am - 10.30am ... Honeycomb Worm Walk & Survey to learn more about the worm and help asses its health. All ages - children to be accompanied by an adult.
Thursday 22nd August, 12.30pm - 1.30pm ... Seawatch at Rossall Point Tower. Look out to sea to see if there are seals or cetaceans.
Saturday 31st August, 10.30am - 12noon ... Beach Clean. No need to book, equipment is provided. Meet by Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs, Central Promenade.
If you have mobility issues and want to join in with the many activities on the beach, please contact Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs to book a free-to-use chair. Tel: 03000 111 003 or visit the website here.
- Reece & Sunny, August 2024
For more information about The Bay: A Blueprint For Wellbeing:
> Email info@thebay.org.uk
Comments