Category: Media

Up to £70,000 of grant funding is now open for applications across two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Essex and Suffolk.   Closing 17^th May 2021.

The Sustainable Development Fund opens to applications for projects that benefit the Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

The Sustainable Development Fund is available to a variety of community and conservation organisations (or individuals) to support projects for the conservation and enhancement of the Coast & Heaths AONB and the Dedham Vale AONB.

The AONB is seeking applications from local community projects that are innovative, socially inclusive, sustainable, that benefit the public and involve partnership working.

Whether you have a project that works in the arts, media, conservation, learning, heritage, food, health, accessibility, and diversity, to give you but a few examples, we welcome your applications.

There is no limit to the amount of funding projects can apply for.  In 2020-21 the Sustainable Development Fund awarded in the region of £500 to £4,700 per project.  In 2020-21 the Sustainable Development Fund supported 43 projects across the AONBs.  Previous projects that have been funded by the Sustainable Development Fund include climate change awareness courses, art workshops for tackling men’s mental health, training for canoe trips, and improving access to nature for people on the autistic spectrum.

The following grant is now open for applications:

Sustainable Development Fund  – For projects in a defined geographical area covering both AONBs.  Applications to be received by 17^th May 2021 for projects running between July 2021 and end of March 2022.

Coast & Heaths AONB Sustainable Development Fund

Dedham Vale AONB Sustainable Development Fund

Applicants need not necessarily come from, or be based in, the AONB. However, projects must further the conservation and enhancement of the AONB.

The Sustainable Development Fund is a fund provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to enable local communities and other organisations to make a difference in AONBs by promoting and achieving sustainable development, partnership, and social inclusion.

These projects focus on integrating the environment, local communities, and the economy so that the unique landscape of the AONB is conserved and its natural beauty enhanced, making it more enjoyable for all.

The closing date for applications to be received for the Sustainable Development Fund is Monday 17^th May 2021. For more information, visit suffolkcoastandheaths.org or dedhamvalestourvalley.org or contact Oka Last, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Grants Officer, on 01394 445225 or AONBgrants@suffolk.gov.uk.

For 10 weeks in this summer of 2021, the Octopus Ahoy! art sculptures will form a public art trail across Harwich, Tendring and the wider Essex area to celebrate the Mayflower 400™️ project and 150 Years of Clacton.

The art trail, featuring 30 4ft-by-4ft octopus sculptures, can be followed on the Octopus Ahoy! app (free to download on iPhone and Android); every time you reach an octopus and GPS picks up your location (or you scan the QR code on the plinth of the sculpture), you earn a prize!

These large octopus sculptures will be auctioned towards the end of the project with all profits going to Essex-based charities.

More information about downloading the app will be posted soon – keep an eye out on the Octopus Ahoy! website and social media pages.

The smaller 2ft-by-2ft octopus sculptures from the education programme will also be available to follow on the art trail app, and are to be hosted in internal locations throughout the summer – but no app prizes will be awarded for these. They will be returned to their schools/community groups at the end of the project.

The project, in partnership with Tendring District Council and the Harwich Tourism Group, is being created and delivered, on behalf of Mayflower 400™️ and 150 Years of Clacton, by KAT Marketing, a full, dynamic, creative agency with a longstanding background in events.

Delivering digital and traditional marketing campaigns in Essex, London and across the East of England, KAT Marketing was the driving force behind the highly acclaimed Stand Tall for Giraffes campaign in 2013, which marked Colchester Zoo’s 50th birthday, and its ongoing legacy for the town. An amazing £115,400 was raised for charity from the auction of the giraffe sculptures.

The KAT Marketing team is pleased to deliver and support the creation and implementation of Octopus Ahoy! for Mayflower 400™️, 150 Years of Clacton, and Harwich, Tendring and the wider Essex area.

WHAT IS A SCULPTURE PROJECT?
The concept of sculpture trails is known worldwide, having been staged throughout the UK, Europe and Africa – from Liverpool’s Superlambanana, Wenlock and Mandeville made famous throughout the 2012 Olympics and the huge international project that started it all, Cow Parade. These types of project provide a sense of community, give businesses – and the public – the chance to be imaginative and embrace art on a large scale and above all, they’re fun!

Other local projects in recent years include Stand Tall for Giraffes for Colchester Zoo’s 50th birthday, and Pigs Gone Wild and Elmer’s Parade in Ipswich for St Elizabeth Hospice.

Octopus Ahoy! will join the list of vibrant community art projects that paved the way… a free activity for one and all to enjoy in the summer months – and all for a very worthy cause!

CELEBRATIONS IN TENDRING FOR THE SUMMER OF 2021
From 150 years of Clacton through to 400 years of Mayflower (401!) the Octopus Ahoy! project is nearly here! We are ready to provide post lockdown joy in the area and the very best stay-cation summer entertainment ever! The Octopus Ahoy! app has amazing prizes and rewards from locals and national companies in the area – grab yourself a free afternoon tea by enjoying just 5 of the octopus and scanning their QR codes on the base of the sculptures. Celebrate art, help business and enjoy the educational benefits of this project this summer.

 

The new Code allows people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits that nature offers, while giving it the respect it deserves.

A new, refreshed Countryside Code has been launched today by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the creation of the founding booklet.

With more people enjoying the outdoors than ever before, the code has been revised to help people enjoy countryside in a safe and respectful way.

The first Countryside Code booklet was published in 1951. This update – the first in over a decade – has been shaped by nearly 4,000 stakeholder responses to an online survey, which sought views on best practices for visiting the countryside and protecting the natural environment and saw a huge response.

Changes include advice on creating a welcoming environment, for example by saying hello to fellow visitors; clearer rules to underline the importance of clearing away dog poo; staying on footpaths; and not feeding livestock. It also provides advice on how to seek permissions for activities such as wild swimming.

Key changes to the Countryside Code include:

New advice for people to ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’ as well as ‘enjoy your visit, have fun, make a memory’.

A reminder not to feed livestock, horses or wild animals.

To stay on marked footpaths, even if they are muddy, to protect crops and wildlife.

Information on permissions to do certain outdoor activities, such as wild swimming.

Clearer rules for dog walkers to take home dog poo and use their own bin if a there are no public waste bins.

A refreshed tone of voice, creating a guide for the public rather than a list of rules – recognising the significant health and wellbeing benefits of spending time in nature.

New wording to make clear that the code applies to all our natural places, including parks and waterways, coast and countryside.

Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said:
The Countryside Code has been providing an excellent guide for people on how to get out and enjoy the outdoors safely for over 70 years.

With more people than ever before seeking solace in nature, this refresh could not come at a more crucial time. We want everyone to be aware of the Code, so people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy the invaluable health and wellbeing benefits that nature offers, while giving it the respect it deserves.

Rural Affairs Minister Lord Gardiner said:
With so many people visiting the countryside, the Countryside Code has never felt more relevant. Crucially it now covers all green spaces, waterways, the coast and even parks in towns and cities, so that everyone, as we lift restrictions, can enjoy a greener future.

I’d like to thank Natural England and all the many stakeholders who helped shape this updated version. It is an excellent guide and I urge visitors to nature – old and new – to follow its advice.

Ahead of the Easter weekend and the easing of some lockdown restrictions it is expected to be bumper period for visitors to the countryside. In the summer of 2020, the Countryside Code was updated to respond to issues that were being raised during lockdown, such as an increase in littering and sheep worrying by dogs. Today’s refresh aims to help everyone enjoy parks and open spaces in a safe way, whilst encouraging them to look after our natural environments and the livelihoods of those who work there.

The pandemic has changed people’s relationships with nature. Evidence from Natural England shows the importance of nature to people’s health and wellbeing, with 85% of people surveyed saying that being in nature makes them happy.

Natural England’s People and Nature survey findings however show some groups have been able to spend more time in nature than others. Promotion of the refreshed Code will aim to tackle those inequalities and encourage more inclusive access to nature for minority communities and those with diverse physical and sensory needs. This will be done via targeted stakeholder and media promotion, and through partnership work such as Natural England’s work with the Mosaic Charity to encourage people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities to access the Peak District National Park, and the recently announced green social prescribing sites.

As part of this announcement, Natural England are also setting up a long-term Countryside Code campaign to increase awareness of the Code through 2021 and beyond. The campaign will focus on encouraging behavioural change amongst public audiences to act responsibly when visiting outdoors, by respecting those who manage the land and adhering to the Code.

The updated Countryside Code can be viewed here.

 

(Published by www.gov.uk 1st April 2021)

The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) are funding a seafront heritage trail in Tendring from Jaywick Sands to Holland Haven but also incorporating Clacton town centre to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Clacton-on-Sea.

The trail will cover over 5 miles of beautiful coastline and engage with local schools, elder care settings and wider community to be active and promote health and wellbeing whilst learning the local history, it will also include new technology to help bring this to life. This will be a fun and engaging way to convey Clacton’s story.

Listening benches and audio posts will also be added to join and connect individuals with the stories of Clacton through the years.

There are many other projects linked with the trail and celebratory events are being planned for later in the year.

Use the map link below to see the beach areas in Tendring that have a dog ban in force.  The bans apply from 1 May to 30 September inclusive.

Click the link for map including beaches and dog bans.

Dogs are permitted on adjacent promenades and cliff paths, but must be on a lead.

Dogs are allowed on all other beaches at all times but they must be kept under proper control and you must clear up after your dog.

To report an incidence of dog fouling on Tendring’s beaches, please complete our online Report it form.

Imposing a dog ban is an important criteria in the annual Coast Awards and Blue Flag schemes.

The beaches with seasonal bans are covered by local Byelaws. These are enforced by our Seafront team. Each banned area is very clearly identified by information signs at every entry point.

Failing to comply with beach bans and control orders could result in a maximum penalty of £500.

Remember the laws for cleaning up after your dog are in force all over the Tendring District.

Royal Life Saving Society’s (RLSS) water safety top tips:

 

• When arriving at the destination if you haven’t yet done so, check the safety arrangements of any water-based activities and if there is lifeguard cover at the beach
• Check bathing sites for hazards, check the safest places to swim and always read the signs – find out what local warning signs and flags mean
• Make sure the whole family can swim
• Swim with any children in your care – it’s more fun and you can keep them close and safe
• Never swim alone
• Never enter the water after drinking alcohol
• Check when the tide will be high and low to ensure that you will not be cut off from the beach exit by the rising tide
• Be aware of dangerous rip-currents
• Inflatable dinghies or lilos are a well-known hazard – each year there are drownings as people on inflatables are blown out to sea. Do not use them in open water
• Do not swim near to or dive from rocks, piers, breakwater or coral
• Swim parallel to the beach and close to the shore

For more information on Tendring’s seafronts and beaches log on to www.tendringdc.gov.uk

Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) www.rlss.org.uk 

 

Clacton Pier said a new push is being made to recycle plastics at Clacton Pier.  The landmark attraction already has its glass, cardboard and paper collected but is now looking to include as much of its plastic waste as possible.

The pier has contacted contractors SCS to arrange for a mixed collection to be introduced ready for re-opening after lockdown.  Extra wheelie bins will be brought in to take the plastic waste.

Managing director Billy Ball said that staff will be encouraged to support the initiative in all areas in an effort to be more environmentally-conscious.  “There is a huge drive internationally to keep our oceans clean – and rightly so – and we want to be a part of that,” said Mr Ball.

“We as a business work right over the North Sea and we have our Seaquarium where we promote such issues and educate youngsters about saving the wildlife below us.

“We all enjoy and benefit from the natural world around us and we all need to play a role in preserving it for future generations.”

Mr Ball said the push on recycling plastics was an idea which came from staff and he was pleased to back it all the way.

“Our plastic recycling has been minimal up to now but that will change in a bid to get greener and cleaner,” he added.

“I would urge all businesses in Clacton and Tendring to look at what they can do. Some are already stepping up to the plate and Tendring Council has led the way by greatly increasing its own environmental credentials in recent years.

“We have kilometres of beautiful, recharged beaches thanks to the £30million plus sea defence scheme which was undertaken by the Council and real improvements are being made to benefit residents and visitors alike.”

 

Story by Clacton and Frinton Gazette 08/03/2021.

How to enjoy the open water safely:
When you’re ready to try the open water, follow these tips from Nick Fecher, Water Safety Delivery Support at the RNLI: ‘It’s important to remember that things can go wrong in the water at any time of year. Average Irish and UK sea temperatures are just 12°C and rivers are colder – even in the summer. If you’re going in during the colder months or for extended periods, wear a wetsuit of appropriate thickness.

Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI, adds: ‘Always swim under close supervision, like a lifeguarded beach between the red and yellow flags – or at least with a group of regular sea swimmers. Tell someone on land where you’re going and what you are doing. Always swim with a tow float, a bright swimming cap, suitable swim wear, your mobile phone in a waterproof pouch, and make sure you acclimatise to cold water slowly as this will reduce the risk of cold water shock. Always swim parallel to the shore and if you feel cold and start to shiver, get out of the water and warm yourself up’.

If you’re at the coast and there’s an emergency, call 999 and ask for the coastguard. If you’re inland, call the relevant emergency service.

RNLI top safety tips:
Never swim alone. The safest way to wild swim is at an Open Water swimming site, with a club or between the red and yellow flags on a lifeguarded beach. If you can’t get to a lifeguarded beach, learn more about your chosen location and check hazard signage by finding an organised swim group in your local community.

Acclimatise to cold water slowly and enter gradually to reduce the risk of cold water shock.

Check weather and tide times before you go, avoid swimming in dangerous conditions.

Take a means for calling for help in a waterproof phone pouch and have this on you at all times.

Wear a brightly coloured hat plus a tow float for increased visibility.

Always swim parallel to the shore and not straight out. Cold water, waves and currents can tire you out quickly and make it harder to return to shore.

Never swim under the influence of alcohol.

Be prepared, Always be seen , Acclimatise slowly , Stay within your depths , Float to live  Call 999 or 112  for the Coastguard in an emergency.

For more water safety information please visit  RNLI.Org/Safety.

Bosses at the landmark said a programme of work has continued during the second lockdown to ensure that the festive activities will be better than ever – with hundreds of new decorations, a purpose-built Santa’s grotto, and animatronic characters.

A life-size singing reindeer will be part of the attractions, helping to raise extra funds for the NHS.

Pier director Billy Ball said that every effort has been made to create a very special North Pole experience at the landmark.

“This year has been very difficult for so many people and we want families to be able to enjoy some festive fun with us.”

“We have built a completely new area for Santa with his Reindeer stables as well as new characters such as Frosty the Snowman. Our rides will also be open for the first time ever over Christmas, except for the big day itself.”

Mr Ball added that the pier is already raising money for the NHS with a dedicated machine in the amusement arcade.

On top of that customers will have the chance to make a donation when they press the button to activate the singing reindeer.

Mr Ball added that all necessary Covid measures are being taken to create a safe environment, provided the pier gets the green light to re-open on December 2.

Santa’s grotto will then open from December 2 to 24 and there is a special deal at weekends and in the school holiday between December 5 and January 3.