R4C has recently completed the evaluation of the Guardians of the Deep project. This project, run by the Kent Wildlife Trust, aimed to involve more people, through innovative engagement, in looking after Kent’s valuable marine environment.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered through a partnership between Kent Wildlife Trust, Thanet District Council, Medway Swale Estuary Partnership and Kent County Council.
Our approach to this evaluation included creating an Evaluation Handbook containing bespoke monitoring and evaluation tools, training and supporting the delivery team to use the tools and then using the information collected to undertake an end of project evaluation.
The results of this work show that, in Kent at least, there is a real appetite among local people of all ages to learn more and be more involved in the marine environment. The Guardians projects developed a range of interesting ways of achieving this.