ARC’s Gems in the Dunes Project Manager, Fiona Sunners gives us a quick update on what they have been up to and what’s still to come this spring.

Our Gems in the Dunes volunteers are still as amazing as ever!

Over the last few weeks we’ve had some lovely sunshine up on the Sefton Coast. This has provided great opportunities for our new sand lizard surveyors to get out and practice their spotting skills – keep up the good work!

Although our natterjack toad surveyors are also doing a great job, the dunes are still so flooded that many of the pools are very deep and cold so the toads are not so keen. As natterjack toads need warmer, shallow pools for their tadpoles to develop quickly, most of the natterjack breeding activity has been restricted to the shallower areas such as the Green Beach and Devils Hole.

Our art and creative writing workshops have inspired many over the last month or so, and resulted in some great work. We’ve still got two to go before the end of the project – come and join us online;

Monday 24th May, 6-7.30pm Creative Writing Workshop – Moving Mountains

Join local poet and writer Hazel Mutch for a creative writing workshop and let your imagination explore the landscapes, plants and animals of the sand dunes of the Sefton Coast. In this session we will reflect on the power of small things. Inspired by the Northern Dune Tiger Beetle.

Tuesday 25th May, 6-8pm Pen and Water art workshop

Following on from incredibly popular “Dare to Draw” and "Coffee and Candles" workshops, the Gems in the Dunes team and local artist Amanda Clark-Price present a new workshop creating beautiful landscape images with just a pen and some water!

Find out more  about these workshops visit our events page and to book a place, please contact the team at [email protected]. A link for the Zoom session will be sent upon confirmation. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment! 

To find out more about Gems in the Dunes and how to get involved visit our project page.