What’s new?
30 July 2009
Oh! I do like to me beside the seaside
The Wildlife Trusts’ National Marine Week
Saturday 1- Sunday 16 August 2009
Ride the wave of enthusiasm and get out and about on the coast this summer. Explore UK marine environments, learn more and most importantly, have fun – as The Wildlife Trusts’ National Marine Week kicks off on Saturday 1 August.
Whatever the weather and whatever your budget, we’ve got it all here in the UK. No matter what your mood, make your very own marine adventure. For favourite rockpooling sites, coastal / marine reserves and centres, copies of our seashore code, games and more, visit:
Lisa Chilton, The Wildlife Trusts’ marine development manager, said: “During National Marine Week we want people to get out and start to explore what lives in, on and around our shores and to discover the secrets of our seas too. The UK’s 11,073 miles of coastline is host to an amazing array of wildlife; many thousands of specieslive in our seas including intricate corals, whales & dolphins, basking sharks, seals, and a myriad of fascinating fish, crustaceans and molluscs.”
Around the UK there’ll be a huge choice of events for adults and children, and many activities perfect for family days out during the school holidays. Rockpool rambles, snorkelling safaris, even picnics with porpoises! Here is a selection of the events on offer this year - for a full list of events around the UK – coastal and inland too, visit http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/index.php?section=events:summer:marineweek.
The North Sea is home to a fantastic array of marine wildlife, from extensive beds of delicate brittlestars, waving their fragile arms up into the water column to feed, to the hidden eyes of the camouflaged plaice glancing up from its seabed disguise. As well as supporting life, the North Sea is also one of the world's busiest seas and is home to a range of human activity which could potentially threaten our precious marine life. Currently, only 2% of the English North Sea is considered as 'partially' protected and only 0.009% 'fully protected'. Leaving many important, rare and threatened habitats vulnerable to harm. For this reason twelve Wildlife Trusts located from Northumberland to Suffolk have embarked on a project to celebrate our local marine life and to help give it the protection it needs.
To find out how you can get involved and about events near you visit www.northseawildlife.org.uk or check out just some of the events mentioned below:
Editors' notes:
- Images and interviews available on request. For more information, please contact Kirsten Smith (kirsten.smith@ywt.org.uk 01904 659570) or Jo Fowler on 01954 713551
- Kirsten Smith – North Sea Marine Advocacy Officer for the following Wildlife Trusts (Northumberland, Durham, Tees Valley, Yorkshire, Sheffield, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicester and Rutland, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough, Norfolk and Suffolk) is available for radio interviews on the following number 01904 615585
- www.wildlifebcnp.org
- www.northseawildlife.org.uk