Cornwall Wildlife Trust will run week of events and activities celebrating Cornwall’s seas for National Marine Week

Cornwall Wildlife Trust are celebrating National Marine Week this summer with an exciting week packed full of family-friendly events and activities to encourage people to get involved with Cornwall’s seas. Running from Saturday 3rd until Sunday 11th August, the events around Cornwall’s shoreline aim to help people enjoy Cornwall’s marine wildlife and gain an ‘up close and personal’ experience of the lesser-known creatures and plants found in the sea.

Many of these events are run by associated Your Shore local marine groups who inspire and educate their local communities on the wonders of the marine environment and the importance of protecting it.

Cornwall is home to some of the richest marine wildlife in the U.K, from tiny rare colourful corals to giant basking sharks. The marine environment is sadly under huge pressure from damaging fishing practices, development at sea and pollution from farming, sewage and plastic. The wildlife charity hopes to inspire a new generation of marine conservationists and volunteers through their enjoyable week of events.

This year, The Wildlife Trust’s theme for the week is “Sea the Connection”, with the aim of showcasing how, as an island nation, everyone is closely connected to the sea. The charity wants to show people why a healthy, thriving marine environment

matters. From whale and dolphin cliff-top sea watches, shoreline scavenger hunts, rockpool rambles, seagrass snorkels and community days, there is something for the whole family to get involved with, no matter whether you live in Cornwall or are just visiting for the holidays.

Katie Bellman, Marine Engagement Officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust says:

“National Marine Week is all about celebrating our amazing coastline and the communities that protect it. Cornwall not only has incredible marine species and habitats, but also incredible people who make up the Your Shore Network. They play a vital role in collecting data through surveys, campaigning for their local environment and inspiring others through marine events like the ones happening this week.”

Jeremy Roberts, volunteer at Three Bays Wildlife Group says:

“National Marine Week is a fantastic thing for local Cornish marine groups like Three Bays Wildlife to be involved with, it’s great to be able to look for the weird and wonderful marine creatures that we find here in Cornwall and tell their stories to locals and visitors. Also, it provides an opportunity to inform people about the pressures the marine and coastal environment is under and how they can be part of the solution to these.”

National Marine Week events run by Cornwall Wildlife Trust include:

National Whale and Dolphin Sea Watch: On 3rd August, join the Seaquest Southwesters at Mirrose Well, North Cliffs, to survey the UK’s coastal waters. This is in collaboration with the Sea Watch Foundation’s citizen science project. On 4th August you can join marine conservation groups around the county on their monthly Seaquest Sunday, and help research the distribution of whales, dolphins, and porpoises around the UK.

Porthpean Beach Day: On 5th August visit Porthpean Beach for a fantastic day of marine themed events, suitable for the whole family. There will be shoreline scavenger hunts, craft activities, a rockpool ramble, and a seagrass snorkel safari. Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Marine Conservation Officer, Matt Slater, will be leading a fun and informative Shore Lab talk, where you can learn all about the marine species local to Cornwall.

Explore the Shore: Curgurrel Rockpool Ramble: On 7th August Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Shoresearch crew has teamed up with the Wild Roseland conservation group to take you on a fun rockpool exploration adventure across the Curgurrel shore and discover the amazing world in Roseland’s rockpools. There will be a crab and fish survey to take part in and you may even be lucky enough to spot the famous St Piran crab!

Carylon Bay Community Beach Day: Be sure to keep an eye out for the charity’s gazebo on the 9th August at Carylon Bay. They will have plenty of fun games, crafts, and cool marine artefacts for you to check out. You can also join in with their snorkel safari and silent disco beach clean!

Lizard Point Wildlife Watch: Head to the National Trust Wildlife Watchpoint at Lizard Point to chat with volunteers about recent wildlife sightings, including Atlantic grey seals, dolphins, porpoises, sunfish, and occasionally whales and basking sharks. Open daily from 11am to 3pm, 1st April to 1st in the UK. 

A full list of events and volunteering activities run by the Your Shore local groups is available on Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s website. To find out more, visit https://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/national-marine-week

Photography credit: Lisa Macleod