Our Mission
Our mission is to create an accessible saltwater haven on the Isle of Wight where everyone can experience “Blue Health”. We see a space where everyone can actively connect with nature on land and in the sea all year round.
Blue spaces are ‘outdoor environments – either natural or manmade – that prominently feature water and are accessible to people. The fact that 270 million visits are made to English coastlines each year is proof of their value.
Blue Health isn’t all about swimming – there are also huge benefits of being BY the sea. The area where we are proposing to build the pool is an ideal location for those who want to enjoy other benefits of being in this environment. This includes walkers, nature lovers and scenery watchers.
Numerous studies over the past decade have shown the positive impact on our health and wellbeing of blue health. This includes being immersed in the therapeutic salt waters of our seas.
The pandemic spurred a rapid growth of open water and wild swimming. Renewed enthusiasm to get into /onto the water triggered a resurgence in the regeneration of abandoned lidos and outdoor pools. It also spurred the creation of new ones throughout the UK – including ours!
“Swimming outdoors makes you twice as happy as swimming indoors”
(Swim England – Get Active)
“Regular swimming in general saves the NHS about £357m a year in reduced GP visits, with many benefits for patients with conditions including dementia, stroke, diabetes, and depression.” [sic]
(Swim England ‘Value of Swimming’)
“1.88m young swimmers feel more confident than non swimmers“
(Swim England ‘Value of Swimming’)
Swimming in Cold Water
The sea is always relatively cold and for those who dip through the seasons there are many benefits. These include not just the physical benefits of dipping, but the psychological benefits of watching the changing weather and colours.
There is still much ongoing research, but according to Dr Susanna Soberg (Winter Swimming, Maclehose Press, 2022):
‘The almost simultaneous processes of activation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in an acclimatised sea swimmer can lead to:
- lower heartrate,
- increased elasticity of the blood system
- a flood of dopamine and endorphins into the system
accounting for the euphoria many swimmers experience.’
Dopamine in particular is the happiness and contentment hormone. A dip in 14-degree water can increase this by 250%. This can often be witnessed in the laughter and smiles of those who participate.
“After a dip in the sea I feel pain free and invigorated with a huge sense of achievement”
– Pam Brown
Combining Learning with Leisure
Yaverland has a wealth of discovery opportunities for those with curious minds.
The Sea Pool will be a ‘living lab’ with innovatory marine habitats on its outer walls and internal rock pools.
These will attract marine life, ripe for exploration by young and old alike and are within the proposal to create an International School of Rewilding of the land and sea nearby.
As a place of research and opportunity, both projects would be major contributors to the regeneration of the area and its economy.
Nearby organisations run a diverse range of educational opportunities, as will the pool. These include:
Wildheart Animal Sanctuary – an amazing place to visit that has education high on its list of priorities.
Dinosaur Isle – has the second largest Dinosaur collection in Europe outside the Natural History Museum in London
Artecology – an eco-engineering pioneer in the drive to increase the biodiversity of many structures.
There is also a drive to create an International Centre of Excellence for Natural Sciences nearby; a place of research and opportunity. This will play another part in the regeneration of the area.
