We love sharing the amazing place we work in with other people. And recently members of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) joined us to spend time on the reserve.
The MMO is a new organisation tasked with the creation of marine plans to ensure sustainable use of the marine environment.
Our visitors were joined by Helen Quayle, RSPB Marine Conservation Officer; Alec Taylor, RSPB Marine Policy Officer; Kirsten Smith, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's (YWT) North Sea Living Seas Manager and Helen Craven, The Wildlife Trusts' (TWT) Marine Planning Officer.
Bempton Cliff’s Site Manager, Ian Kendal, was on hand to answer any questions and explain more about the projects underway on the reserve. The group visited several of the cliff-edge viewpoints which give incredible views of the seabirds nesting on the cliffs and making use of the nearby waters. And despite the soggy summer, the rain held off (mostly!) helping make the experience even better.
After seeing some of Bempton’s 200,000 seabirds with RSPB volunteers, the group headed off for YWT's Flamborough Cliffs’ Nature Reserve and a boat trip to further experience this wonderful section of the coast.
Everyone agreed this visit provided a great opportunity for the MMO to increase their understanding of seabirds and acknowledge how important nature reserves, managed by organisations like the RSPB and TWT, can be for delivering conservation as well as recreational and tourism opportunities that can contribute to the local economy.
Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head are truly important places for seabirds and we hope that this will be reflected in future marine plans along with other areas of nature conservation value. We’ll all be doing our very best to ensure this happens
From l to r: Ruth Barber (MMO), Alec Taylor (RSPB), Elizabeth Brett (MMO), Kirsten Smith (YWT), Helen Craven (TWT), Helen Quayle (RSPB), Tom Woolley (MMO), Ian Kendall (RSPB Bempton Cliffs)