Easton Community Group

The W&PBC website has further information on Easton Community Group

Celebration of the sea

10am to 4pm. Easton Gardens. SY691718

Saturday 11th August

Easton Community Group’s annual fayre with a sea flavour: Children’s fancy dress competition with a marine theme (judging at 12:00), stalls, crafts, games and trampolines, lunches. Entertainment by Weymouth Concert Brass, The Barnstormers, and Get Us Together Drama Group.

Washed-up wonders

10:30am to 4pm. Masonic car park. SY681738

Saturday 11th August

Join local artist Lal Hitchcock and the Portland Ranger, Lyn Cooch, to search the strandline of Chesil Beach and then turn your discoveries into something new. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Wear old clothes and bring a packed lunch.

This event is free, but booking is essential;. Ring 01305 823789 or e-mail island.volunteers@virgin.net.

Portland Castle

For more information on Portland Castle, visit the English Heritage website here

The Tudors and the sea

11am to 4pm. Portland Castle. SY684743

Saturday and Sunday, 11th and 12th August

The fortress of Portland Castle will be manned once again by the Tudor period garrison. The Pike and Shot Group’s displays show Tudor life: clothing, diet, and cooking using maritime provisions. Will include live firing of gunpowder weapons.

Admissions costs £3.80 for adults, Concessions £2.90, children (5-15yrs) £1.90. Children under 5 and English Heritage members may enter for free.

Access: Disabled access to Captain’s House, ground floor of castle and castle grounds only. Guide dogs only, please do not bring other dogs to this event. There is a touch tour of the castle for visually impaired visitors.

The castle is open from 10am to 6pm each day.

Chiswell

For more information on the Chiswell Community Trust, the walled garden and the Chiswelll Earthworks visit their website here

Plants of a shingle beach

2pm to 4pm. Chiswell Walled Garden. SY683736.

Saturday 11th, Tuesday 14th, Saturday 18th August

Margaret Somerville of the Chiswell Community Trust will share her knowledge of shingle plants and the special habitat of Chesil Beach at the Trust’s walled garden and her own Chesil Gallery garden.

There is full disabled access to the Chiswell Walled Garden, but there are a few steps at the Chesil Gallery garden.

Portland Quarry and Sculpture Trust

For more information of the work of the trust look at their website here

Life under ancient seas

2pm to 5pm, Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust, The Drill Hall, Easton Lane. SY692724.

Saturday and Sunday,11th and 12th, and Saturday and Sunday, 18th and19th August

Discover the underwater world, past and present. See a video of the seabed and recent fossil finds. Make masks, paint and take photographs to add to the exhibition. Families welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult.

Note that adjacent parking is by prior arrangement only because of limited space.

Botanical treasures (including the tiny ones!)

10am to 1 pm. Meet at viewpoint above Church Ope Cove. SY697712

Sunday 12th August

Explore the beautiful area to the north of Church Ope Cove with Brian Edwards, botanist and lichenologist. Walk is 1.5 miles (2.5Km) over uneven terrain.

This event is free, but booking is essential: 01305 823789 or e-mail island.volunteers@virgin.net

Culverwell

For more information on this site click here. To see a copy of the excavation report click here.

Ancient Portland man and the sea

2pm to 5pm. Culverwell middle stone age site. SY684692

Sunday 12th, and Thursday 16th August

Visit Culverwell middle stone age site, run by the Association for Portland Archaeology. During Marine Week there will be an additional display of the Roman and Mediaeval site in Weston Road. Other dates and times possible, ring 01305 861576.

Coastal ramble

10:30am to 12:30pm. Meet at Portland Bill Tourist Information Centre. SY677684

Monday 13th August

A gentle guided stroll from Portland Bill looking at what is so special about the wildlife on Portland’s coastline. Guided by Lyn Cooch, the Portland ranger.

The Jurassic Coast

For more information on the World Heritage Site look at the Jurassic Coast website by clicking here

Jurassic seas

2pm. New Ground car park, SY689732

Monday 13th August

A walk through the quarries exploring Portland’s place in the Jurassic Coast and the amazing story locked within the rocks of the island. The walk will be led by Richard Edmonds of the Jurassic Coast Team and is approximately 2.5 miles (4Km) long.

For more information on Portland Port click here

For more information on the National Sailing Academy click here

Yngling to prison ship

7pm. Meet at the Masonic car park. SY681738

Monday 13th August

An evening stroll on the shores of Portland Harbour looking at the recreational and commercial activities and buildings of this historic harbour. The walk will be led by Don Moxom, the Fleet Warden, assisted by representatives from Portland Port and the National Sailing Academy.

Full disabled access over paved paths

Drama by the sea

10:30-12:30 and 1pm to 3pm. Meet at Chiswell Earthworks on the seawall, SY684732.

Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th August. Join in either day, or both days.

Discover the sea’s trash and treasure….What’s lurking on the shores? A pirate’s hat, a washed up map? A mermaid’s tail or a shipwreck’s sail? A drama workshop full of games, improvisations and stories. For 9-13 year olds.

This event is free, but booking is essential: 01305 789077 or 07891 034085

For information on the south-west region of Natural England click here. For information on Southern Sea Fisheries click here

The local seas

7:30pm. St Georges Centre, Reforne SY688720

Tuesday 14th August

Three speakers on the seas off Portland today: Rachel Waldock of Natural England will speak on marine conservation, Ed Harland, from the Chesil Beach Centre, will speak on physical influences, and a representative of Southern Sea Fisheries will speak about fishing.

Full disabled access.

Coastal walk

10am, Meet at the Portland Heights Hotel. SY688729

Wednesday 15th August

A walk with naturalist Bob Ford along the cliff-top path, part of the South-West Coast Path, to see coastal plants, butterflies and seabirds.

Who’s hiding on the harbour shore?

12:30 to 2:30pm. Meet at Portland Castle (Osprey Quay side entrance to small beach)

Wednesday 15th August

Wade in for seashore fun. Enjoy using viewing tubes. Led by Lyn Cooch, the Portland Ranger. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Migrating seabirds at Portland Bill

7pm. Meet at Trinity House obelisk, Portland Bill. SY677683

Wednesday 15th August

An evening sea watch for seabirds returning from their northerly breeding grounds to spend the winter in the English Channel and Atlantic Ocean, with Bob Ford, naturalist. Bring your own binoculars.

Full disabled access

Association for Portland Archaeology

For more information on the work of the Association look at their website by clicking here.

The Portland coast through the ages

7:30pm. Community 2000 Portland Hall, Straits. SY693719.

Thursday 15th August

Susann Palmer, director of the Association for Portland Archaeology, will give an illustrated lecture on ancient Portland man and the sea, and Gordon LePard, marine archaeologist, will speak on three centuries of Portland shipwrecks.

Full disabled access

Mythical monsters of the sea

10:30 to12:30 and 1pm to 3pm. Meet at Chiswell Earthworks, SY684732.

Friday and Saturday, 17-18th August

A two day drama/dance workshop exploring what is hidden beneath the seas. Work with a choreographer and drama/theatre practitioner in a group to create a finished piece to perform on Saturday 18th August. For 10-13 year olds.

This event is free, but booking is essential: 01305 789077 or 07891 034085

The dinosaurs were here

2pm. Meet at Perryfields car park (opposite Portland Museum), SY695712

Friday 17th August

Discover the evidence for Portland’s earliest inhabitants and explore the giant landslides on the east side of the island. Distance 2.5 miles (4km). Led by Richard Edmonds of the Jurassic Coast Team.

Songs along the shore

2:30pm. Meet at Chiswell Walled Garden, SY683736, then onto Chiswell seawall.

Sunday 19th August

Local choir Island Voices perform original songs celebrating Portland’s landscapes, people and the sea at Chiswell Walled Garden. Then join the choir for a gentle walk with songs. Walk led by Lyn Cooch, the Portland ranger.

Full disabled access on paved paths