Make the most of your coast this summer

You can make the most of your coastline this summer, with a range of activities on offer from the Thanet Coast Project.

The summer season kicks off with the Rocky Shore Safaris on Monday 25 July. They run until Friday 5 August, at different locations around the coast and offer you the chance to explore the shoreline and identify the sea life living there. They’re aimed at the whole family and each safari costs £2 per person.

On Wednesday 27 July, the Thanet Coast Project team will be leading a number of organisations involved in the Beach Blast Fun Day, aimed at those aged five to 18. It’s taking place from 12pm on Margate’s Main Sands with a variety of activities on offer.

Youngsters can learn more about the rocks and fossils of the coastline with a hands-on exploration with the Rock Doc team during Geology Rocks. There are two sessions, one on Tuesday 26 July at Margate Main Sands and the other on Monday 1 August on Ramsgate Main Sands. Both cost £2 per child and last for an hour. The monthly Rock Doc walks continue throughout the summer, with July focusing on Stone Bay, August looking at Kingsgate and September moving to Pegwell Bay.

Crab Tales… and other Beastly Stories will be told on the main beaches in Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate during the week of Monday 15 August. These sessions, aimed at families with children aged four to 11, include creature stories, games, art and some natural magic, and cost £2 per child.

If you want to be a bit more active, there’s a Coastal Cycle from Turner to Dickens on Tuesday 2 August, an eight mile round trip in total. It starts at Margate Harbour, before heading through Kingsgate and following the North Foreland coastline down to Viking Bay in Broadstairs.

For those who are more creative, SeaART 2011 returns from Saturday 13 August until Monday 29 August, with coastal and marine inspired art exhibitions showing works by local artists at the Belgian Café, Ramsgate. There will also be art workshops for children over the Monster Bass Festival weekend at Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour on Saturday 13 August and Sunday 14 August.

Cllr. Chris Wells, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “Once again, the Thanet Coast Project team have put together a stunning line-up of events to keep the whole family busy during the summer holidays. They have so many different and fun ways to explore our beautiful coastline and find out more about the animals that live here and why it’s nationally and internationally important.”

In addition to these advertised events, the Thanet Coast Project is running coastal activities for local community groups to access the coast with various partners through the ‘Footprints in the Sands’ project.  Thanet groups that would like to get involved in running an activity in one of Thanet’s bays or at the new ‘coastal community beach hut’ should get in touch on 01843 577672.

To book on summer events and, where appropriate, pay for them, visit the Thanet Coast Project website.