Public awareness of UK cetaceans is paramount to their conservation and we’re always trying to reach people to tell them all about the wealth of whales, dolphins and porpoises around our isles and to inform them of conservation issues too. We have a network of Regional Coordinators around the UK and these fantastic volunteers help us with such outreach, as well as coordinating data collection in their area. Recently, Stuart Baines, our Regional Coordinator based in Scarborough took some time to visit a local primary school in a bid to inspire the next generation of Sea-Watchers!
“I visited Northstead Primary School, Scarborough, in January of this year as the Year 2 children were studying whales, I was amazed to find ninety enthusiastic children who were very excited and keen to add to the knowledge they already had of whales. I was most impressed at their constant stream of informed questions on the marvellous animals they were studying.
It was great to be able to inform these budding cetacean watchers that at certain times of the year whales could possibly be seen from the coast only a mile from their school if they were very lucky, and that whale watching trips run out of Whitby twenty miles away run by Whitby Whale Watching. I was also able to inform the children that they could see cetaceans, in the form of harbour porpoise, all year round from the Marine Drive some two miles from their school, and hopefully they will now encourage their parents to allow them to stop and watch.
Revisiting in early February I was impressed to see these super displays they had created on their Whale topic. All in all it was a fantastic experience to find so much enthusiasm for cetaceans from these polite, well-behaved children, an interest which will hopefully continue as they grow up.”
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Stuart, and all of our Regional Coordinators, for their fantastic efforts in spreading awareness of our wonderful whales, dazzling dolphins and precious porpoises around the UK!
To find your local Regional Coordinator, click here. If you would like to join our ranks and help spread awareness, please email kathy.james@seawatchfoundation detailing your skills, your location and how you might like to help.
