Future Coast North Swanage collaborating with Coasts in Mind

Future Coast North Swanage are collaborating with Coasts in Mind for a project focused on North Swanage.

The project aims to collect memories, photographs, and personal stories about coastal change in order to improve community understanding of how the coastline has evolved over time.

Elaine Snow, engagement lead for Future Coast North Swanage, said: "We’re really excited to partner with the Coasts in Mind team and gather information how Swanage's coastline has changed in living memory.

Residents are being invited to explore Swanage's changing coastline as part of a new partnership between Future Coast North Swanage and the Coasts in Mind project. (Image: Virtual Swanage)

"The Future Coast North Swanage project wants to help support the community in building adaptation for the future.

"Looking back can help us to see where we are today."

By reflecting on historical changes, the partnership hopes to empower residents to build resilience and prepare for future environmental challenges.

Oliver Hutchinson, project officer for Coasts in Mind, said: "Coasts In Mind is charting 100 years of coastal change around Poole Harbour using the photographs, videos, and memories of people in communities from Sandbanks to Swanage.

"Preserving and sharing stories of change is a powerful way to build resilience for our future lives by the coast as individuals and communities, and Coasts in Mind are excited to work alongside Future Coast North Swanage to tell the fascinating story of North Swanage’s changing coastline."

A launch event will take place on Tuesday, July 21, at the Mowlem Theatre Showbar, where residents are encouraged to bring photographs for inclusion in the Coasts in Mind Archive.

The archive also features images from across the broader Poole Harbour area.

Mr Hutchinson said: "We’re inviting you all to contribute and become storytellers by donating photographs of the area over the decades.

"Your pictures will be added to the Coasts in Mind Archive for anyone to learn from as we share the people’s story of change."

Future Coast North Swanage is part of the Environment Agency's Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP).

Residents are being invited to explore Swanage's changing coastline as part of a new partnership between Future Coast North Swanage and the Coasts in Mind project. (Image: Virtual Swanage)

It is being delivered by Dorset Council, with Dorset Coast Forum acting as the community engagement partner.

The Mowlem Theatre launch will also include a presentation outlining how residents can continue contributing to the archive in the months ahead.

Coasts In Mind is a Heritage Lottery Fund project from Museum of London Archaeology.

More information is available on the Future Coast North Swanage website.