I have a lot of experience of collecting rubbish from the upper shore and high tideline and decided that I’d like to learn more about the wildlife on the lower shore.  I joined the North Wales Wildlife Trust and read about the 'Have a go' session in an events email I received.  

I can now appreciate the life on the mid and lower shore and maybe how my beach cleaning can improve the environment they live in.

The volunteer at my Have a Go session was a fellow beach cleaner and so enthusiastic that she reeled me in.  I have been a regular shore surveyor for three years now and enjoy all aspects of surveying apart from maybe the occasional bit of bad/cold weather.  

Before becoming involved I thought I had quite a good knowledge of what could be found on shore.  I have since discovered that sea slugs, star ascidian, light bulb sea squirts and many many more creatures exist on our shores that I had no idea about!  

Spending time with my fellow shore surveyors is one of my favourite aspects of volunteering, it’s great to spend time and learn with them and we have become quite a gang of friends.  It’s good to know that the data we collect whilst enjoying ourselves is used to understand what is on our shores and the presence of invasive species and climate change indicators.  I would encourage anyone that has an interest in wildlife to come along to a Have a Go session.  

I enjoy volunteering at these sessions to try and get new people to take part.  I was recently confident enough in my knowledge of shore surveys to take part in a recording of Countryfile describing quadrat surveys.  

Becoming a Shoresearch survey volunteer has meant that instead of just concentrating on the rubbish on the high tide line, I can now appreciate the life on the mid and lower shore and maybe how my beach cleaning can improve the environment they live in.

Find out more about volunteering with Shoresearch