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Kent Wildlife Trust celebrate National Marine Week 2024 by hosting a series of free events

Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

The annual celebration of the sea runs from Saturday 27th July – Sunday 11th August

A series of free events will be hosted by Kent Wildlife Trust to celebrate National Marine Week during the summer holidays. 

This year’s National Marine Week theme is Sea the Connection, which is celebrating the diverse ways people feel connected with the sea. Kent Wildlife Trust are encouraging people to share favourite seaside memories, adventures and places on an interactive map.  

From Herman Melville to Amy Liptrott, Sylvia Earle to Charles Darwin, writers, naturalists and adventurers have documented voyages, discoveries and encounters with the sea throughout history. Now Kent Wildlife Trust are calling on everyone to share their stories of how the sea enriches lives.  

National Marine Week takes place from Saturday 27th July to Sunday 11th August 2024 – it spans a fortnight due to varying tidal conditions around the UK. There are celebrations and events across the area such as Pegwell Bay and Lower Leas Coastal Park created to help inspire and educate people about the wonders of marine wildlife. 

The events are free, but must be booked in advance and consist of rockpooling, guided walks and beach cleans: 

Kent Wildlife Trusts Protected Area Warden, Nina Jones says: “The seas around the UK matter to us all – whether it’s because they support businesses or provide a playground for us to explore and relax – we owe so much to them. The stunning coastlines and waters surrounding us host an abundance of wildlife and store vast amounts of carbon – and they have an enormous cultural impact on society too. Rocky shores, muddy estuaries and sandy beaches are wonderful places to explore and these fascinating habitats have inspired many a storyteller, artist and poet throughout history, making our lives all the richer. We want everyone to share their sea stories with us!  

"Our research shows that people consider marine conservation to be a top environmental priority for the government. Ensuring better protection of our seas will aid in the recovery of coastal and marine habitats. This, in turn, will allow these habitats to more effectively carry out ecosystem services and aid in their own recovery. Furthermore, it will help ensure that large amounts of carbon remain stored in natural habitats such as mud, seagrass, and saltmarsh. Improved protections for our seas will result in healthier waters, benefiting everyone." 

Wyl Menmuir, author and ocean advocate, says:  “At the end of a long day, I know I can get a lift by walking along the strandline at my local beach. There’s always something interesting to find among the seaweed where the tide has turned: mermaids’ purses, by-the-wind-sailors, cork floats with goose barnacles, fascinating things that take my full attention. I pick out the plastic I find there, too, which makes me feel I’m doing some good, so it’s a win win.”  

Steve Backshall, TV presenter and supporter of National Marine Week, says: “We're so lucky to have waters around our Great British Isles which are teeming with life, with treasures equalling anywhere else on this planet. I distinctly remember swimming in a seagrass meadow off the coast of Cornwall with spiny seahorses bumping into my mask! Even if you don't live on the coast, you can still get involved with National Marine Week by learning about the deadly impact of pollution on our seas and doing a litter pick to make sure less plastic makes its way downstream.” 

Find the interactive map and a full list of events on The Wildlife Trusts’ website: www.wildlifetrusts.org/national-marine-week   

Editor's notes

Images from Kent Wildlife Trust can be downloaded from this Google drive. 

You are welcome to use the images in this DROPBOX. Please note that the images are for one-off use only in connection with this story and The Wildlife Trusts.  All photographers must be credited.

Editor’s notes

The Wildlife Trusts’ poll asked people to identify environmental priorities for the next government. The top five were: 

  1. Ensuring nature is properly protected in our seas (50%) 

  1. Halving pollution in rivers from sewage and farming by 2030 (45%) 

  1. Upgrading the energy efficiency of homes to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions (38%) 

  1. Helping farmers reduce emissions and adapt to climate change by embedding adaptation into farm payment schemes (37%) 

  1. Providing more money to support nature-friendly farming (37%) 

See: New poll finds most people think main parties falter on nature and climate crises in the run up to General Election | The Wildlife Trusts 

 Protecting UK seas 

In 2020, the Government committed to protect at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 (its 30x30 target). According to a 2022 report by Wildlife & Countryside Link, a maximum of 8% of English waters could be classed as protected from bottom-towed fishing, which damages the seabed. An additional byelaw will come into force on 22nd March 2024, protecting almost 4,000 km2 from bottom-towed fishing gears. However, other impacts, like offshore developments and other fishing methods, and poor monitoring to assess nature’s recovery in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) mean this figure could be lower. 

 National Marine Week events 

 About Kent Wildlife Trust   

Kent Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading conservation charity with more than 31,000 members and over 1000 registered volunteers. We manage and protect over 9,000 acres of land across more than 90 different sites and nature reserves, alongside 3 visitor centres.      

We work closely with local communities, landowners and partners to protect and improve habitats in the countryside, coast and town for the benefit of the wildlife and people of Kent.     

The charity also campaigns against inappropriate and damaging development; and educates and inspires young people to help secure a more sustainable future and create a Wilder Kent.     

Visit our website here: kentwildlifetrust.org.uk   

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