Ian Tittley and Catherine Cave
Ian Tittley
Ian Tittley was one of two people who established a volunteer group to undertake intertidal surveys around Kent in the 1980s, an initiative which lasted 20 years and later evolved into Kent Shoresearch. Ian’s involvement continued, supporting Kent Wildlife Trust’s surveys and marine programme more widely. As the marine algae specialist at the Natural History Museum, his immense knowledge and unfailing participation in surveys meant the algal data collected was always accurate and comprehensive, and he has identified numerous samples from dives, handed over to him in small frozen packages. He recently consolidated this wealth of data into a published atlas of the seaweeds of Kent which involved visiting every 1km square around Kent’s long coastline. He has generously and patiently shared his knowledge on volunteer events, and during workshops behind the scenes at the Museum, on training days on the shore and in classrooms. He has participated in professional surveys without payment and contributed to Kent Wildlife Trust as a Trustee, championing marine conservation in the Trust.
Catherine Cave
Kate is a very passionate and enthusiastic volunteer and marine champion who is an incredible asset to the Living Seas North West team, who she has volunteered with for over 4 years. She is a local retiree from the education team at the RSPB Ribble Discovery Centre and has a wealth of knowledge about local habitats and wildlife and is able to communicate her expertise to a wide range of different audiences. She helps out at events by running stalls, creating arts and crafts with children, mud dipping, leading guided walks and many more!
She has helped spread local and National Wildlife Trust messages for conservation including the work of two local projects; Living Seas North West and the Fylde Sand Dunes project. She lobbies the local community to take action for their seas and coastline and has inspired countless people to follow Wildlife Trusts campaigns. Kate is brilliant at communicating with children at an interesting but informative level that is easy to understand. Her background in education means she is ideally placed to nurture young minds and encourage them to take ownership for their local coastline as they grow. Kate always goes above and beyond to help, for example in previous years in the temporary absence of marine officers, Kate has stood in to enable the smooth running of events and promote the work being done. The Fylde Coast is a better, cleaner, more educated stretch of coastline for having amazing volunteers such as Kate.