Welcome to Shoresearch Cymru.
Shoresearch is a UK-wide set of intertidal surveys carried out by the various Wildlife Trusts and partners around the British and Northern Irish coasts. The surveys are designed to provide robust data to help with the monitoring and therefore conservation of these very special, at risk and important areas of our marine environment.
Shoresearch Cymru sees us working with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to ensure the data collected is specific to Welsh coasts in particular. It aims to help to monitor our Marine Protected Areas which have intertidal features, but also to improve the breadth of on-shore monitoring of Invasive Non-Native Species. This liaison is funded by Welsh Government.
As part of the Shoresearch Cymru training you will be required to learn both online (in a classroom in future) and on-shore for all levels. In our experience, this provides the right level of information to help you move through the needs of the surveys and build your ID skills. We have tried to make this as flexible as possible to help you fit it into your volunteer time, whilst ensuring you reach the level of training which will provide robust data.
Level 1
Online training: You will need to read, watch and complete quizzes on various introductory themes. You will also be introduced to a few species which are common, but also some which are less commonly seen, yet important to keep an eye out for, such as Climate Change Indicators (CCIs) and Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS).
On-shore training: In addition to the training, you will find onshore support by way of the additional group Shoresearch Cymru sessions and help to carry out Self-led surveys.
Throughout, you can mix and match to ensure you gather the information you need to suit, to some degree, the way you learn. There is no requirement to move beyond level 1 training to carry on volunteering with Shoresearch Cymru. If you want to move through to level 2, however, you will need to complete all online and on-shore sessions, reach a level at which you are confident to move on and which reaches a level of understanding of species ID and survey ability required to pass the various quizzes and on-shore checks.
Level 1 online training headings:
How to find and ID species part 1 – learning how to find species on shore and getting to know the shore heights.
How to survey – introduction to the Shoresearch surveys and what you will need to complete the surveys.
Your data – what happens to your data and a brief introduction to Marine Protection Areas (MPAs).
How to find and ID species part 2 – learning about species groups, what features to look for and where to look.
Species ID learning how to ID some of the common, INNS and CCI species and particular species groups.
On-shore surveys:
You will carry out various surveys, initially as part of the survey group, but also complete two self-led walkover surveys and submit a survey form for each. Whilst out with survey leaders you will also answer some ad hoc questions to help ensure the mix of online and on-shore training is successfully helping to build your survey skills and ID knowledge.
Level 2
Online training: You will need to read, watch and complete quizzes on various themes leading on from Level 1. The species and species groups for this level will be more in depth and you will be continuing to add to your ability to ID Climate Change Indicators (CCIs) and Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS).
On-shore training: You will acquire learning support from the group on-shore sessions and continue to carry out self-led surveys, ideally within the local hub of volunteers.
Throughout, you can mix and match to ensure you gather the information you need to suit, to some degree, the way you learn. There is no requirement to move beyond level 2 training to carry on volunteering with Shoresearch Cymru. If you want to move through level 2, however, you will need to complete all online and on-shore sessions, reach a level at which you are confident to move on and which reaches a level of understanding of species ID and survey ability required to pass the various quizzes and on-shore checks.
Level 2 online training headings:
How to find and ID species part 3 – a focus on those less common species groups you might be finding, now you know some of the common ones.
How to survey using the SACFOR scale – this important addition to surveys helps improve what data we collect from the shore. You will learn more and get a chance to practice.
Your data – more about how the surveys work and a focus on an MPA to highlight how they generally work.
Species ID learning how to ID more common, INNS, CCI and not so common species.
On-shore surveys:
You will carry out various surveys, continuing with the survey group, but also complete four self-led walkover surveys and submit a survey form for each. Whilst out with survey leaders you will also answer some ad hoc questions to help ensure the mix of online and on-shore training is successfully helping to build your survey skills and ID knowledge.
Shoresearch Cymru is in the process of being designed to help build up information about the intertidal species found in our protected areas.
