Marine adventures at Kimmeridge as part of national wildlife event

Dolphin watching from the cliff-top look-out at Kimmeridge Bay is just one of the featured events in a fortnight of marine-themed activities organised by Dorset Wildlife Trust.

The idea of the events is to get families and individuals involved in exploring the seashore and the wider marine environment. Marine Weeks runs from Sunday July 24 2022 to Monday August 8 2022.

Advertisement 
Marine Kimmeridge Bay Hazel Ormrod (8) (1)
Hazel Ormrod

Kimmeridge Bay

“Highlight of the year”

At Kimmeridge Bay, as well as the opportunity to join a dolphin watching session, there will be a chance to explore underwater marine life on a snorkel trail, or take part in eco-friendly crabbing and rock pooling activities led by expert wardens.

Sarah Hodgson, coastal centres officer, said:

“It’s great to be taking part in national marine weeks and to celebrate the wonderful, rich and colourful marine life that’s found around our shore.

“We’ve got an exciting programme of activities running which will help people to discover some of the incredible animals that inhabit the sea around Dorset.

“In terms of events that we put on this is really the highlight of the year and usually we get a lot of visitors wanting to take part.”

Seahorse Credit Paul Naylor (1)
Paul Naylor

A shy and retiring seahorse

Explore without getting wet

Wildlife Trusts across the UK will be focussing on the extraordinary sea creatures and plants all around the shores of Britain.

In Dorset, the local Wildlife Trust says the county has the most astonishing marine wildlife, from seahorses to dolphins, from colour-changing cuttlefish to rock-clinging limpets.

And there’s no need to get wet. At the Wild Seas Centre at Kimmeridge, a state-of-the-art underwater camera will broadcast live footage to a screen inside the centre to show Kimmeridge Bay beneath the waves.

Marine Common Cuttlefish4 JHatcher-4959 (1)
J Hatcher

The common cuttlefish

Miniature organisms

The centre staff will also be getting the microscopes out on Plankton Day, on Wednesday 3rd August 2022, when visitors can discover the diversity of plankton found in water samples collected from Kimmeridge Bay and also learn about the vital role these miniature organisms play in the life of the oceans.

Meanwhile, over at Chesil Beach, there’s the chance to join the Strandline Detectives walk to hunt for wildlife treasure washed in from the sea and to find out what lives in the deeper water.

Marine Weeks Exploring_marine_life_Credit_Emma_Godden_(1)[1]
Emma_Godden

Encouraging children to appreciate the vast range of marine wildlife in Dorset

Glass-bottomed boat

There are also regular trips in the glass-bottomed Fleet explorer boat, which takes passengers round Fleet lagoon, to explore its underwater wildlife.

To find out dates, details and costs of all the events happening in Dorset for Marine Weeks, you can go to the Dorset Wildlife website.

Wild Seas Centre at Kimmeridge
Phil Abraham

The Wild Seas Centre at Kimmeridge Bay

Share this story

Contact us

Do you have anything to add to this story?

We like to keep everything up-to-date, so if you know more, please help us by getting in touch.

Advertisement 

Top stories

New BBC Winterwatch puts Purbeck back in TV spotlight In what is likely to be a final visit, BBC cameras will be returning to RSPB Arne in Dorset for the TV programme Winterwatch, to once again highlight the amazing ... 1 month ago Ten year transport plan puts Purbeck at top of wish list 4 weeks ago Purbeck pub Rivo’s Hub opens its doors as it revs up for 2025 1 month ago Swanage woman charged with shoplifting at the Co-op 2 weeks ago Swanage care home reopens after death of three residents 4 weeks ago

Most recent

Historical novel by Purbeck writer inspired by freedom fighter aunt Purbeck writer Greg Duncan drew from his family tree when he wrote his first historical novel - for his aunt had been a freedom fighter in France during World War ... 13 hours ago It’s most unusual – Sir Tom Jones will finally headline Lulworth festival 2 days ago Desert sand to be strewn on Lawrence of Arabia’s Purbeck grave 3 days ago Swanage town mayor holds Golden Charity Ball 4 days ago Appeal to buy defibs in memory of Wareham boy Shaun 5 days ago