NEWS IN BRIEF

WalkinginvitationCOUNTY: A walking group islooking for new members.The group is aimed at

single people aged in their50s and 60s. They walk everySunday, covering aroundeight miles.For more details call

07901 862 588 or email owls-walking@hotmail.co.uk

OndisplayinvillageWEST DORSET: Scarecrowshave been popping up inWinterborne Sticklandfor the annual villagecompetition.It also includes a flower

display, which can be seenuntil the end of the month atSt Mary’s church, a treasurehunt, exhibitions, coffeemornings, quiz evening andtalks.Stickland Sports Club will

be holding a ‘messy games’afternoon on July 30 at 2pmand there will be specialservices in all the localchurches on Sundays.The festival runs until

July 31.

LaunchofCruseCareDORCHESTER: A friendshipgroup has been launched tooffer support to those whohave been bereaved and helpthemmove forward.The group is run by Cruse

Bereavement Care Dorsetand meets on the secondMonday of every month inthe United Church.Anyone is welcome to pop

in between 2pm and 4pm.

FieldDaysexhibitionWEST DORSET: The KingcombeCentre in Toller Porcorumwill host an exhibitioncalled Field Days.It can be viewed from

Friday to Sunday between11am and 4.30pm.

ProducersatmarketDORCHESTER: The Wessexlocal craft and foodproducers market returnsto Brownsword Hall inPoundbury on Saturdayfrom 10.30am to 4pm.

keyforcentreNEWSdorsetecho.co.uk/news

23fb.com/dorsetechoTuesday July 19, 2016 DorsetECHO /f

LOVE IS IN THEAIR: Penguins at theSea Life Centre

IN FULL VOICE: A singing group at the conservation evening

SHELL SEARCHING: Imogen Camp at the Sea Life Centre

eymouth Sea Life Centre

marine protected areas to benefitmarine habitats, wildlife and seausers to keep them healthy.“The nearest area to here that

needs looking at and protecting isin Studland but this will be a partof a network across the whole ofthe country to help species such assea horses which are common toDorset.”Whatever the animal and

whatever the cause, if thereis one thing that was repeatedthroughout the night, it was

reduce, reuse and recycle as muchplastic as possible.Whatever the animal and

whatever the cause, if thereis one thing that was repeatedthroughout the night, it wasreduce, reuse and recycle as muchplastic as possible.It’s a hopeful mantra regarding

conservation; with almost allproducts packaged in plastic, it’shard to imagine a future wherethis isn’t an issue. But, withchampions at Sea Life continuing

to work hard at educating peoplefrom Dorset about threats tomarine life, it’s a future that lookshopeful.

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830999e: newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uktwitter: @DorsetEcho

AwarenessofseagrassTHE Community Sea Grass Initiativeis a citizen science project set upto raise awareness of seagrasshabitats across the UK led by theNational Marine Aquarium.The project stretches a total of

191m from Looe in Cornwall toWeymouth.Some of the top spots for looking

at seagrass can be found in Portlandharbour, West and East Fleet,Weymouth Pier and Ringstead.The plants act as an underwater

forest to provide food for manycreatures and also act as a shelterfor fish and invertebrates.Creatures best-known to hide

out in seagrass are seahorses andcuttlefish.Seagrass bed are very sensitive

to disruption and pollution, an areawhich the projects aims to reduce.One of the biggest concerns for

conservationists studying seagrassis the increased amount of plasticpollution ending up in the water.About 80 per cent of plastic in the

sea comes from land.

SupportingBigFishbidSEA Life currently supports the BigFish Campaign which aims to educatethe public about purchasing certainspecies of fish as pets.It also promotes responsible buying

and selling of fish for food.The initiative began in 2005 after

public aquaria were being overloadedwith unwanted fish that hadoutgrown their tanks.The pet trade has been criticised

for selling fish without detailing thefull extent of their growth capacity onpurchase.Pangasius catfish, Red tail catfish

and Pacu are some of the speciesbought unknowingly by fish fanatics.

Part of the campaign is preventing‘juvenile’ fish, which are perceived asmore colourful and cheaper to buy,from being sold off.