Jennifer Allen, writes about the work of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum (PCF).

The Forum is part of the Sustainable Pembrokeshire Environmental Education Link group (SPEEL) that was established in 2002 as a platform for ideas and practical discussion on how to positively promote and combine environmental education and sustainable development in Pembrokeshire.

By taking a holistic and bespoke approach to sustainable management of the coast, combined with our knowledge in the marine sector, the PCF team has provided unique packages, created with funding from local sponsors, to offer a range of educational services and opportunities which support:

  • businesses wanting to engage with students, such as Port of Milford Haven.
  • teachers wanting to develop cross curricular activities and marine case studies.
  • students who want to take part in work experience in the marine sector.

The expert-led lessons and activities both in school and out in the field can be stand-alone ‘experiences’ or can form part of a school’s project, tailored to refl ect the current National Curriculum requirements.  The following are examples of recent projects:

Coastal Challenge Days

Interactive Coastal Challenge days have been held with support and funding from Natural Resources Wales, South Hook LNG, Murco and RWE power.  Working with both primary and secondary schools in Pembrokeshire, the days include time spent out in the field with experts, giving students the opportunity to focus on the wide range of interactions and challenges which face the Pembrokeshire coast. Our topic days include: Sustainable Tourism and Recreation at Abbereiddy, Climate Change and Sea level Rise at Amroth, Marine Conservation at Skomer MNR and Marine Renewable Energy at St Justinian’s.

A coastal careers programme featuring the Port of Milford Haven Community and stakeholder engagement is a key area of the work PCF does and in association with the Port of Milford Haven, and PCF has developed and delivered days for students at a range of Pembrokeshire schools.  To complement this, PCF has coordinated career skills days at the schools and teacher training days which were held at the Port.  With input from Port staff, these career days promote the wide range of jobs available.

Hosting work experience students

Owing to the varied nature of the work carried out by PCF and its hosted projects (Marine Energy Pembrokeshire, Wales Activity Mapping, Pembrokeshire Code and Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter Group), PCF is an ideal place for students to come and gain experience working in the marine sector.  Students are given the chance to work independently by producing the e-newsletter, writing articles, helping to organise events and attending meetings and events.

Pembrokeshire Fish Week & Seafarers Awareness Week

PCF gets involved in both weeks on an annual basis and are contracted by various organisations to coordinate informative and fun activities aimed at children, families and the wider public, and assists with activities including: quizzes, photography competitions, visits to Milford Maritime Museum and tall ship visits.  The Forum has excellent links with many schools in Pembrokeshire and aims to connect students to the coast in a sustainable manner and get them thinking about the many careers that a complex coastal environment like Pembrokeshire has to offer.

For more information, contact Jodie McGregor at: jodie.mcgregor@pembrokeshirecoastalforum.org.uk

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This article was first published in NAEE’s journal, Environmental Education (Vol. 106).  To read more articles like this, you can join the Association and receive three journals a year.

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