Over 100 people attended this event, organised by the Seaton Visitor Centre Trust (SVCT), which really felt like a celebration of all that is beautiful and unique about the Seaton’s coastline, marshes and wildlife. Stunning replicas of the Seaton Banners acted as a backdrop in the brightly decorated Seaton Town Hall. Talks, information stands from local groups, lovely refreshments, competitions and new Friends and Events leaflets all helped to make the evening a success. There was even a three tiered cake, representing the three ages of the geology to be found at Seaton.
Special guest, Prof Denys Brunsden, enthralled the audience with explanations of how our Jurassic Coast sits beside other World Heritage Sites, using visuals to show Seaton’s location on the world map as the geology changed over time. Tracey Guiry, Dr Sam Rose, James Chubb and Donald Campbell then explained how the proposed visitor centre will help visitors and locals to interpret the area and its uniqueness, and inspire them to go out and experience it for themselves.
There were 6 excellent entries for the community groups’ table top display competition, from Seaton Garden Club, WI, Axe Vale Conservation Society, Holyford Woods, Sustainable Seaton and Seaton Rainbows. The speakers judged the competition, taking messages from all the entries but believe the Rainbows had encompassed all of them and deserved to be the winners of the six SVCT Jurassic Coast Cruise tickets.
Julie Richens, Chairman of the Seaton Visitor Centre Trust, said ‘I’d like to thank members of the SVCT, many of whom have worked very hard to prepare for this event. We’ve had lots of compliments and it seems that people are now more aware of what the Seaton Visitor Centre Trust has been achieving over the years and how the community can get involved at this critical stage of the project. Of course, we’d like to encourage everyone to become a ‘Friend’ of the Seaton Visitor Centre for £5 pa. This is crucial so that we can demonstrate and quantify community backing when we apply for grants and in return we keep our Friends updated and invite them to special events. We are also hoping that some of these new Friends will get involved and offer some of their time. They would be very welcome.’
Also, to further engage the community, the SVCT has just announced a photographic competition, for all ages, to create their calendar for 2011. For more details please email seatonphotocomp@fsmail.net. For all information on the SVCT please see www.seatonvisitorcentretrust.org or local press.