Cornwall Wildlife Trust are celebrating National Marine Week this summer by running nine days packed with family-friendly events and activities to celebrate Cornwall’s seas.

This included a ramble over the rocks on July 30 with Bude Marine Group at Crooklets Beach.

Running from Saturday, July 29, until Sunday, August 6, 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 our seas.

Through rockpool rambles, seagrass snorkels, cliff-top dolphin watches and more, the wildlife charity hope to inspire a new generation of marine conservationists and volunteers.

Cornwall is home to some of the richest marine wildlife, from tiny rare colourful corals to giant basking sharks. Our marine environment is also under huge pressure from damaging fishing practices, development at sea and pollution from farming, sewage and plastic.

Matt Slater, marine conservation officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust said: “Cornwall has a rich and varied coastline with an incredible diversity of marine species that call it their home, our maerl beds and seagrass beds in particular are among the best in the UK and the snorkelling and diving in Cornwall is incredible.

“National Marine week celebrates this diversity; from tiny fluorescent coloured sea slugs to huge fin whales, we have got it all, but it also celebrates the huge value healthy seas offer for us all.

“Our seas provide us with so much, including the very oxygen we all breathe, the seafood we eat, inspiration and recreation, and increasingly they are also being valued as vital in countering climate change, as they are so good at capturing carbon dioxide from our environment.

“They need to be protected better so that future generations can enjoy these many benefits. We want to see at least 30% of our seas under proper protection by 2030 and we will only achieve this with support from the public.

“Our seas are an inspiration to many but are still under appreciated, largely because so few of us venture beneath the surface.

“We hope to inspire and engage with as many people as possible this summer through a host of exciting and inspiring events taking place all around Cornwall! Take the plunge and join in!”

The events have been organised in partnership with Cornwall’s Your Shore Network – a movement of 18 community-led marine conservation groups which Cornwall Wildlife Trust coordinates.

This year, young marine conservationists will be featured on the charity’s social media channels throughout the week to shine a light on the diverse wildlife in our seas and projects that are helping to protect nature on our shores.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust are also inviting everyone to share their pictures during the week, using the hashtag #nationalmarineweek.