1. 22
NEWS IN BRIEF
Winnersof
bigdraw
COUNTY: The winners of the
Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance grand summer
draw have been announced.
More than 96,000 tickets
were sold. The jackpot
winner was W Watton
of Bournemouth, with
Mrs M Howard, also of
Bournemouth in second.
Third prize went to Mr H
Hemmens of Highbridge.
For information on joining
the weekly draw, call 01202-
849530 or email lottery@
dsairambulance.org.uk
Eyesdown
forbingo
COUNTY: An over 50s’ bingo
event will be held at the
Catholic Church Hall in
Westbury, near Sherborne.
It takes place from 2pm
on Thursday and costs £3 to
include six games of bingo.
Awards
forwildlife
COUNTY: The awards
ceremony for the Wildlife
Friendly Gardening Awards
takes place on Thursday.
The event is organised by
the Dorset Wildlife Trust
and takes place at Castle
Gardens in New Road,
Sherborne, from 6.30pm.
Tickets are available in
store. For more details
call 01935 814633 or visit
thegardeneronline.co.uk
Swannery
birdshow
ABBOTSBURY: Frankie the
barn owl and friends will be
at the Swannery from this
Thursday.
The birds of prey will on
display until August 31 and
there will be talks at 11am
and 3pm. For more details
call 01305 871858.
Talkingat
thesociety
COUNTY: Rosie Thomas is the
star speaker at this year’s
Sherborne Literary Society
dinner.
It takes place at Leweston
School from 12.30pm on
Friday. The event costs £25
which includes a two-course
meal with drinks on arrival.
To book, call 07712590897.
Conservationis
WEB has been splashing for a
solid five minutes, desperate
for attention from one of the
keepers.
She’s already had her feed
today, but with an audience so
large, she can’t help thinking
that by showing off her fin-
flapping tricks, she will convince
some of the helpful members of
the crowd into dangling one last
fish over the water to catch.
Looking on, it’s hard to believe
that any immediate threat to the
seal community exists. Yet, as the
playful pup dives in and out of
the water, spectators are shocked
to find out that one of the biggest
hazards to the seal population
are in fact, humans.
It is for this exact reason
that Weymouth Sea Life centre
holds its Annual Conservation
Evening. Like many, the burden
of saving the planet seems
almost impossible. But, for
everyone here, it is a cause worth
fighting for.
Fiona Smith, curator of Sea
Life Park said: “Tonight is the
fourth annual evening. It’s
helping to fundraise for charities
we’ve supported such as the
Dorset Wildlife Trust, the RSPB,
the International Otter Survival
Fund (IOSF), the Sea Life Trust
and our Community Seagrass
Initiative.
“One of the most important
causes we care about here is
preventing plastic pollution
and it’s important to have these
projects here to spark real
engagement.”
Around the park, amongst the
face-painting stalls and cake
stands are ‘sensory boards’,
dotted about to boost this
engagement.
One board in particular
attracts attention for its fluffy
features – the otter.
With their family of otters
being a major attraction at Sea
Life, speaking with Chelsea
Perrins about the IOSF, she
explains that of the 13 species
that exist, 12 are declining – and
much of that is down to plastic.
“At the moment, the major
issues facing the otter
community in Britain is habitat
loss and pollution,” she remarks.
In the 1970s and 80s, there
was a genuine fear among
conservationists after
populations of the elusive
creatures dropped dramatically
due to the increase in pollution
and building of new roads.
And, with five species of otters
classed as ‘endangered’, it’s
plastic has become a major factor
for concern in marine biology.
Sea Life Trust champion,
Daniel Jarvis, said: “Around 80
per cent of plastic pollution in
the sea comes from land – Sea
Life has already made great
strides in reducing plastic across
all its sites and will be doing even
more as they move forward to
prevent it ending up in the ocean.
“One of the things the Sea Life
Trust is concentrating on now
is championing the creation of
Rachel
Lily
NEWS dorsetecho.co.uk/news
22 @dorsetecho Tuesday July 19, 2016t/ DorsetECHO
DISCOVERING: Imogen Camp
ENTERTAINING: A seal jumps for a treat at Weym
ATTRACTION: Starburst the seal
hard to stay positive about their
species’ future.
However, Chelsea believes it’s
not all ‘otter misery’.
“In the UK we’re actually seeing
an increase of otters with more
sightings across Britain and
in Dorset alone, otters are now
present in every river catchment.
“The IOSF and Sea Life are
helping to raise awareness by
giving talks and running various
courses in identifying otter signs
and survey training.
“Things that the public could do
to help keep numbers increasing
is be careful of what you’re
doing near the water, and most
importantly, not littering.”
This seems to be the theme
of the evening, with the next
talk being held in the Turtle
Sanctuary.
Above the crowd, two Green
Sea Turtles stay firmly routed
to the floor like carved boulders.
Senior aquarist at Sea Life, Sarah
Everett, admits they’re lucky to
even be alive.
“All seven species of sea turtle
in the world are classed as
either endangered or critically
endangered and, whilst some of
this is caused by natural reasons,
a lot of the depletion is down to
humans.
“One of the biggest threats to
turtles is marine litter. Younger
turtles will often confuse a plastic
bag for a jellyfish and, where
they’re unable to digest the
plastic, it may create a blockage
causing them to either float or
starve.”
From terrapins to tiny
seahorses, it is evident that