5 Things to do for National Marine Week in Cardiff

National Marine Week runs from the 23rd of July to the 7th of August and, although Cardiff may not be home to any marine environments, there’s still lots you can do nearby. Here are our top 5 ideas!

Go rock pooling

Searching rock pools is a fun and easy way to learn more about your local marine wildlife and discover the secret lives of our sea creatures. You never know what species you might find! On a recent rock pooling day at Barry, our Wilder Engagement Officer, Chris, discovered a Shore Crab, Common Periwinkle, and a Beadlet Anemone.

Just remember when you’re rock pooling to always put anything back where you found it so as to not disrupt the tiny ecosystems held within the rock pools!

Do a beach clean

Save our seas by doing a beach clean! Plastic which is left one our beaches can choke our marine wildlife - it poses a huge threat to wildlife because it doesn’t just disappear; it simply breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces. Animals often ingest plastic fragments which can build up in the bodies of animals right up the food chain - from microscopic animals right up to large predators, including us! Make a difference today by doing a beach clean! All you need is a bin bag and a pair of gloves to get started.

Go for a coastal walk

Coastal walks are the perfect opportunity to see every aspect of a marine environment and how they all interact. Beach profiles describe the landscape of the beach, both above the water and below it. You can see the way the sea has shaped the land, and the way that the land supports the marine ecosystem. Take a walk at Lavernock and see the spectacular geology of the cliffs.

Spot a jellyfish

You’ll often find jellyfish on the Welsh coastline, but have you ever noticed the differences between them? Barrel jellyfish are large translucent jellyfish with a huge mushroom shaped bell and a bunch of 8 frilly tentacles below, whereas Compass jellyfish are a translucent yellowish-white colour with brown markings around the fringe and on the top of the bell. Those atop the bell resemble a compass, with V shapes radiating out from a central point. Go on a jellyfish search and see what you find!

Try fossil hunting

Rocky beaches, such as Lavernock, are often home to a whole collection of fossils. You can find all sorts of marine reptiles, molluscs, and snails hidden in the rocks there. Someone even found some bones of the theropod dinosaur, Dracorapor, at Lavernock!