Tag Archives: Family

May Half-Term Rock Pooling

May 25, 2021 Heather Buttivant 2 Comments

Who doesn’t need a week off at the moment? Whether you’re visiting your local beach or holidaying in Cornwall, rock pooling is a free and fun experience for all the family.

Read on for links to events, rock pooling tips and my guide to what you might find.

Make every beach trip an adventure with my children’s book, Beach Explorer: 50 Things to See and Discover. It’s packed with hands-on activities, facts and quizzes.

EVENTS

Organised rock pooling events are perfect for learning about marine wildlife with the experts. Due to current restrictions, booking is essential for most activities and plans may change. At the time of writing, the following groups and organisations are planning events in the half term:

If you’re not able to attend an event, don’t worry. It’s easy to rock pool safely and to look after the wildlife with a little preparation.

ROCK POOLING TIPS

All you need for successful rock pooling is a pair of wellies or sturdy shoes and a little patience. There are many fascinating species to see, so go slowly, look carefully, leave everything as you found it and have fun!

The European 3-spot cowrie (Trivia monacha)
St Piran’s Hermit Crab at Hannafore, Looe
A colourful Xantho pilipes crab.
A dahlia anemone.
Watching fish at Kynance Cove
Green shore urchin, Hannafore, Looe
Learning about a spiny starfish at a Wildlife Watch event
Junior getting to know our wrasse-friend before we put it back
A juvenile turbot at Lundy Bay
Drying off in the sunshine after rock pooling at Port Nadler, near Looe.
Plaidy near Looe
Just one more rock… exploring the Cornish rock pools
Flat periwinkles and other shells washed up on Looe Beach
Montagu’s blenny with its distinctive head crest
Painted top shell.

Always check the tide times, stay clear of cliffs and waves and dress for the weather.
Nets can harm delicate sea creatures so are best left at home. A bucket or tub is ideal if you want to scoop up an animal to look at, but be sure to put it back.
Why not finish up with a beach clean to help look after the wildlife?

Find out more about rock pooling with my top tips and guides.

BEACHES

The choice is endless! Cornwall has over 300 beaches and they are all fantastic. Any beach with rock pools will have crabs, snails, anemones, fish and more.

Find out about some of my favourite rock pooling beaches here.

WHAT TO SEE

May and June are fabulous rock pooling months. The pools are bursting with new life from baby fish to brightly coloured seaweeds and stunning starfish.

Sit quietly and look closely at the pools to watch prawns, crabs and sea snails going about their business. Gently lift seaweed and look under stones to reveal the secret hiding places underneath (be sure to put them back as you found them).

Here are some of my favourite treasures to find in the pools …

Cushion Stars

**These puffy little starfish are common in the pools. Did you know that they can re-grow their arms?**

Shannies

The common blenny (or shanny) is perfectly adapted to shore life and can even breathe through its skin when out of the water. It also has a great smile. — **The common blenny (or shanny) is perfectly adapted to shore life and can even breathe through its skin when out of the water. It also has a goofy smile.**

Sea lemons

Green Shore Crabs

Green shore crab with eggs - Christmas eve 2018 in Looe — **Green shore crabs can survive in lots of different conditions and can eat almost anything – even each other. This female has eggs under her tail.**

Common Prawns

**Prawns are curious and will often swim over to investigate anything new in their pool. You can see right through their bodies!**

Strawberry anemones

Star Ascidians

Flat Periwinkles

Flat periwinkle in the Cornish rock pools — **Flat periwinkles feed on seaweed and come in lots of colours. Look out for their eggs on the seaweed – they look like little circles of jelly.**

These are just a few of the creatures you might find. Discover more with my guides to the wildlife in the rock pools and my blog.

Happy rock pooling! Be sure to get in touch to let me know what you find this half-term.

Beaches, Starfish, Urchins and Sea Cucumbers, Volunteering

An Outbreak of Starfish – Wildlife Watch Explores Readymoney Cove

April 26, 2019 Heather Buttivant 10 Comments

Before I’ve found the time to upload all of last year’s records, the rock pooling event season is upon me again. Junior comes along to help at my first Wildlife Watch event of the year for Cornwall Wildlife Trust at Readymoney Cove, undeterred by the bone-chilling wind.

A crowd of hardy young rock poolers, kitted out from head to toe in weatherproof gear, is gathered at the top of the beach and I am joined by Liz, a lovely volunteer assistant. Half the group have their hands up before I’ve even asked a question and these keen kids are practically bursting with stories and facts about crabs, blennies, pipefish and killer jellyfish. They also have high expectations of what we might find – seahorses and cuttlefish are among the requests – but most of all they want to see starfish.

Starfish of some sort are almost guaranteed on all our local beaches, especially cushion stars, which like to hide under rocks and overhangs. If we are lucky we might also find brittle stars, that walk on their five feathery arms, or even a gargantuan spiny starfish, so I am hopeful that we will be successful on our mission.

As the group spreads across the shore, the finds soon rush in. We turn shiny top shells in our fingers, hold chunky-clawed Xantho hydrophilus crabs, and to the immense joy of one young seahorse enthusiast, we find the next best thing to a seahorse: a male worm pipefish with eggs on his belly.

Xantho hydrophilus - the 'furrowed crab'. — Xantho hydrophilus – the ‘furrowed crab’.

Pipefish are close relatives of the seahorse and the male takes care of the female’s eggs, storing them in a special groove on his belly until they hatch. Coincidentally this pipefish has taken up residence next to an old pipe.

It only takes a minute for the children to discover a common starfish. I often find one or two on this beach, even though they’re not so common intertidally as offshore. The deep-water harbour alongside this beach is probably packed with them and sometimes young common starfish make their way into these sheltered pools. Today, however, there is something unusual going on.

One of the common starfish found - photo courtesy of Liz Barker — One of the common starfish found – photo courtesy of Liz Barker

Under the first stone I turn, I see two baby common starfish. As I look I notice a third, a fourth and then a fifth. On the side of the rock, there is yet another starfish. The adjacent rock has four more.

Common starfish at Readymoney Cove near Fowey

Everywhere on the beach, children are shrieking with excitement as they find more starfish. There are scores of them among the rocks I look at.

We could easily collect the starfish by the bucket-load, but these children know not to disturb the animals. We keep just a few for our trays so that we can watch them and all those who want to can have a go at holding a starfish before they are returned to their rocky homes.

While the children are caught up in the magic of starfish, I take a moment to explore the rocks at the sea’s edge and discover this wonderful yellow clubbed sea slug, Limacia clavigera.

Limacia clavigera - the yellow-clubbed sea slug — Limacia clavigera – the yellow-clubbed sea slug

There is never enough time to take many photos at these events as I am too caught up in the excitement of identifying finds and helping the children learn more about them. We also have plenty of discussions about the animals’ impressive defences and quirky eating habits.

The children do a perfect job of looking after the animals, returning them all safe and unharmed to their homes before the incoming tide floods back into the pools. Despite the chilly conditions, the kids are buzzing with happiness at finding so many starfish. A friend tells me her kids talked of nothing else all the way home.

Even Junior, who has seen most things before, is delighted with today’s finds and even more delighted when he secures the very last cheese and onion pasty from the beach shop for his lunch.

If you’d like to get involved with Wildlife Watch, book on to my rockpooling sessions or join any other Wildlife Watch events, check out the listings on the Cornwall Wildlife Trust pages.

Did you know that starfish can regrow their limbs? Find out more about the secrets of these iconic rock pool animals in my book Rock Pool: Extraordinary Encounters Between the Tides out on 2nd May with September Publishing and available through local and national bookshops and online.

Events

Summer Holiday Marine and Beach Events in Cornwall

July 6, 2018 Heather Buttivant Leave a comment

Whether you and the children want to try rock pooling, beach cleans, snorkelling or dolphin watching this summer, you’ll find plenty of fabulous family-friendly events all around Cornwall.

Please check the full details on the organiser’s website, including booking requirements, any charges and age restrictions before attending.

Remember to book well in advance if required.

Have fun!

Event	Date	Time	Location	Info	More details…
Polzeath Rock Pool Ramble	12 July	10.15am – 12.30pm	Polzeath	BOOKING ESSENTIAL	National Trust
Rockpool Expedition and Picnic	14 July	11.30am – 2.00pm	Nr Porthcothan	BOOKING ESSENTIAL	Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Seaweed Search	15 July	12.00 – 2.30pm	Prisk Cove, Mawnan Smith		Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Durgan Beach Clean	15 July	2.00pm – 4.00pm	Bosveal NT Car Park		National Trust
Snorkel Safari	15 July	2.00pm – 5.00pm	Little Fistral, Newquay	CONTACT ORGANISER	Newquay Marine Group
Polzeath Rock Pool Ramble	17 July	2.30pm – 4.45pm	Polzeath	BOOKING ESSENTIAL £2 per person	Polzeath Marine Group
Snorkel Safari and Barbecue	17 July	6.00pm – 8.00pm	Gyllingvase Beach, Falmouth	BOOK TICKETS, Over 9s only.	Falmouth Marine Group
Polzeath Beach Clean	18 July	9.30am	Polzeath		Polzeath Marine Group
Polzeath Marine Crafts	25 July	10.30am – 12.30pm	Polzeath Marine Centre	£2 per person	Polzeath Marine Group
Polzeath Rock Pool Ramble	26 July	10.15am – 12.30pm	Polzeath	BOOKING ESSENTIAL £2 per person	Polzeath Marine Group
Radical Rockpooling	29 July	11.45am – 2.00pm	Polzeath	BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Over 11s only	Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Seaquest Seawatch – watching for dolphins etc.	30 July	11.00am – 1.00pm	Lizard Point		Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Sunset Session Boat Trip – Wildlife Watching	30 July	6.30pm – 8.30pm	Newquay		Cornwall Wildife Trust
Seaquest Seawatch – watching for dolphins etc.	31 July	11.00am – 1.00pm	St Agnes Head NCI Station		Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Polzeath Rock Pool Ramble	31 July	1.15pm – 3.30pm	Polzeath	BOOKING ESSENTIAL £2 per person	Polzeath Marine Group
Paddle for Plastic Kayak Adventure	31 July	2.00pm – 5.00pm	Lizard area	BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Cornwall residents only.	Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Seaquest Seawatch – watching for dolphins etc.	1 Aug	11.00am – 1.00pm	Towan Headland, Newquay		Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Polzeath Marine Crafts	1 Aug	10.30am – 12.30pm	Polzeath Marine Centre	£2 per person	Polzeath Marine Group
Sandymouth rock pool ramble	1 Aug	1.30pm – 3.00pm	Sandymouth	£1 per person. Check booking details with organiser	National Trust
Looe Summer Snorkel	1 Aug	4.00pm -6.00pm	Hannafore, Looe	BOOKING ESSENTIAL. 9-24 year olds only.	Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Seaquest Seawatch – watching for dolphins etc.	2 Aug	11.00am – 1.00pm	The Rumps, Pentire Headland		Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Polzeath Rock Pool Ramble	2 Aug	2.15pm – 4.30pm	Polzeath	BOOKING ESSENTIAL £2 per person	Polzeath Marine Group
Seaquest Seawatch – watching for dolphins etc.	3 Aug	11.00am – 1.00pm	Hella Point, Porthgwarra		Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Polzeath Beach Clean	3 Aug	9.30am	Polzeath		Polzeath Marine Group
Rock Pool Explorer	3 Aug	15.00 – 17.00	St Michael’s Mount	Check booking requirements with organiser.	National Trust
Beach Clean	4 Aug	10.00 – 11.00	Hemmick Beach, Roseland		National Trust
Strandline Treasures and Sand Sculpture Competition	4 Aug	1.00pm – 3.00pm	Nr Polzeath	BOOKING ESSENTIAL	Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Seaquest Sunday – watch for dolphins etc	5 Aug	11.00am – 1.00pm	Pendennis Head		Falmouth Marine Group
Learn to Snorkel in a Rock Pool	6 Aug	3.00pm – 5.00pm	Bude	BOOKING ESSENTIAL	Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Porthcurnick beach clean	6 Aug	10.00am – 11.00am	Porthcurnick, Roseland		National Trust
Pendower beach clean	6 Aug	2.00pm – 3.30pm	Pendower, Roseland		National Trust
Marine Litter Masterpieces	7 Aug	10.00am – 12.00 midday	Marazion		Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Crazy About Crabbing	8 Aug	09.15 – 11.30	Mevagissey		Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Polzeath Marine Crafts	8 Aug	10.30am – 12.30pm	Polzeath Marine Centre	£2 per person	Polzeath Marine Group
Seal Squad XP Roadshow Festival	8 Aug and 9 Aug	11.00am – 4.00pm	Geevor Tin Mine	Included in entry to Geevor	Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Polzeath Rock Pool Ramble	9 Aug	9.15am – 11.30 am	Polzeath	BOOKING ESSENTIAL	National Trust
Extreme Rock Pooling	10 Aug	10.00am – 1.00pm	Port Isaac	BOOKING ESSENTIAL Cornish residents and over 8s only £36 per person	Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Rockpool Explorer	10 Aug	10.00am -12.00 midday	St Michael’s Mount	Check booking requirements with organiser	National Trust
Rockpool ramble	10 Aug	10.45am – 12.45am	Readymoney Cove, Fowey	£1.50 for non-members of Friends of Fowey Estuary	Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Night time rock pooling	10 Aug	9.00pm – 11.00pm	Gyllingvase, Falmouth	BOOKING ESSENTIAL	Falmouth Marine Group
Porth Beach Clean	11 Aug	10.00am – 1.00pm	Porth, Newquay		Newquay Marine Group
Rockpool Ramble	12 Aug	11.30am – 1.30pm	Porthlevan	BOOKING ESSENTIAL, Over 6s only	Cornwall Wildlife Trust
An introduction to the rock pools	12 Aug	11.00am – 1.00pm	Hannafore, Looe	BOOKING ESSENTIAL	Cornwall Wildlife Trust wildlifewatch@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk
National Marine Week Summer Holiday Rockpool Ramble	12 Aug	12.30pm – 2.00pm	Hannafore Looe		Looe Marine Conservation Group
Polzeath Rock Pool Ramble	12 Aug	11.45am – 2.00pm	Polzeath	BOOKING ESSENTIAL £2 per person	Polzeath Marine Group
Newquay Summer Snorkel	12 Aug	2.00pm – 4.00pm	Little Fistral, Newquay	Check booking arrangements with organiser. 11+ only	Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Polzeath Rock Pool Ramble	14 Aug	1.15pm – 3.30pm	Polzeath	BOOKING ESSENTIAL £2 per person	Polzeath Marine Group
Polzeath Marine Crafts	15 Aug	10.30am – 12.30pm	Polzeath Marine Centre	£2 per person	Polzeath Marine Group
Sandymouth Summer Rock Pool Ramble	15 Aug	1.00pm – 3.00pm	Sandymouth	£1 per person. Check details with organiser	National Trust
Polzeath Rock Pool Ramble	16 Aug	2.30pm – 4.45pm	Polzeath	BOOKING ESSENTIAL £2 per person	Polzeath Marine Group
Rockpool Explorer	17 Aug	3.00pm – 5.00pm	St Michael’s Mount	Check booking arrangements with organiser	National Trust
Sunset Beach Clean	18 Aug	7.00pm – 8.00pm	Harlyn Bay
Rockpool Explorer	17 Aug	3.00pm – 5.00pm	St Michael’s Mount	Check booking arrangements with organiser	National Trust
Fowey Marine Day	21 Aug	10.00am – 2.00pm	Town Quay, Fowey		Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Summer Sunset Beach Clean	21 Aug	7.00pm -8.00pm	Trevone Bay		Beach Guardian
Polzeath Marine Crafts	22 Aug	10.30am – 12.30pm	Polzeath Marine Centre	£2 per person	Polzeath Marine Group
Rock Pool Explorer	24 Aug	10.00am – 12.00 midday	St Michael’s Mount	Check booking arrangements with organiser	National Trust
Polzeath Rockpool Ramble	24 Aug	10.15am – 12.30pm	Polzeath	BOOKING ESSENTIAL	National Trust
Polzeath Marine Crafts	29 Aug	10.30am – 12.30pm	Polzeath Marine Centre	£2 per person	Polzeath Marine Group
Summer Rock Pool Ramble at Sandymouth	29 Aug	1.00pm – 3.00pm	Sandymouth	£1 per person. Check booking details with organiser	National Trust
Rockpool ramble	30 Aug	1.30pm – 3.30pm	Nr. Mawnan Smith	BOOKING ESSENTIAL	Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Polzeath Rock Pool Ramble	31 Aug	1.45pm – 4.00pm	Polzeath	BOOKING ESSENTIAL £2 per person	Polzeath Marine Group
Rockpool Explorer	31 Aug	3.00pm – 5.00pm	St Michael’s Mount	Check booking arrangements with organiser	National Trust
Hemmick beach clean	1 Sep	10.00am – 11.00am	Hemmick beach, Roseland		National Trust
Seaquest Sunday – Looking for dolphins etc.	2 Sep	11.00am – 1.00pm	Pendennis Head, Falmouth		Falmouth Marine Group
Porthcurnick beach clean	3 Sep	10.00 – 11.00	Porthcurnick beach, Roseland		National Trust
Pendower beach	3 Sep	2.00pm – 3.30pm	Pendower beach, Roseland		National Trust

If you know of any other summer beach events in Cornwall this summer, let me know and I’ll add them to the list.

Anemones and Jellyfish, Rock pooling tips

A Night Out in the Rock Pools

May 19, 2018 Heather Buttivant 6 Comments

Nights out tend to become a distant memory when you’re a parent. For the most part I don’t miss them. I have, however, been looking forward to Junior being old enough to join me for night time rock pooling. Towards the end of last year, we tried it for the first time and, although the conditions weren’t ideal, he’s been asking to go again ever since.

The best low tides always happen around the middle of the day, and the middle of the night, but we compromise for this first family expedition of the year, choosing a reasonable low tide at around 10.30pm. The warm, calm weather provides good opportunities for seeing nocturnal activity and tonight I’m trying out my ultraviolet (UV) torch.

It doesn’t disappoint.

Head torch at the ready - night time rock pooling is a perfect adventure — Head torch at the ready – night time rock pooling is a perfect adventure

I’ve always known that certain species glow under UV light, but I had no idea how much. We’ve barely taken ten paces out across the rocks when we see our first snakelocks anemone, shining from the darkness like an eerie green beacon. The colour is wonderfully alien.

Snakelocks anemone at night under UV light - a true alien of the Cornish rock pools — Snakelocks anemone at night under UV light – a true alien of the Cornish rock pools

This fluorescence is caused by certain proteins within the animals that take in light of one colour and emit it as another. Some deeper water species can use these properties to appear red, even though red light is filtered out as it passes through the water, meaning the only light available to underwater creatures is UV or blue.

It’s not clear why snakelocks anemones and other sea creatures might want to fluoresce in this way. It seems there may be some benefit in it for their symbiotic algae or it might give them sun protection. It may just be a by-product of a protein that’s useful in other ways. Whatever the reasons, it produces an incredible glow. Junior is already talking of coming back at Halloween.

A spooky night time rock pooling walk is definitely on the programme for this Halloweeen! — A spooky night-time rock pooling walk is definitely on the programme for this Halloweeen!

It’s not just the anemones that take our breath away. If you’re used to rock pooling in daylight when most animals are hiding away under rocks and seaweed, the sheer level of activity in after dark takes you by surprise.

A scratching, crackling sound stops us in our tracks. It’s coming from the rocks. I lift the seaweed to show Junior a group of limpets. Some are feeding, their strong radulas scouring seaweed off the rock and chipping bits of rock. Others are setting into their home scars, grinding their shells into their grooves to create a perfect fit. Close-up, their activities make a surprising amount of noise.

Limpets on their way home as the tide retreats

Most rockpool animals are largely nocturnal. Pools that seem empty in daytime become bustling cities of activity. We watch hermit crabs milling around in large numbers, crabs marauding through the pool and across the rocks, fish floating in plain sight. Prawns come towards the light and watch us before shooting away backwards.

A green shore crab looking blue in the UV light

Hermit crabs are more active at night, every pool is teeming with them

Other Half spots a small species of spider crab (Macropodia sp.) decorated with long fronds of seaweed edging sideways across the pool. It’s moving too fast to take a clear photo in the poor light. The blurring makes it look even more alien.

A blurry small spider crab (Macropodia sp) moving across sand.

A scorpion fish lies still on the sand, watching out for prey.

A scorpion fish (Taurus bubalis) hiding in plain sight.

One surprise is the stunning colours of the seaweeds under the UV light. Some of the dark red seaweeds take on a far more intense, bright colour, glowing red, pink and orange. Where the top shells have worn spires, their tips glow pink.

A grey topshell on a red seaweed under UV light

After an hour, tiredness and cold begin to set in. We switch off our torches and take a moment to gaze at the stars before we head home to bed. Junior is already asking if we can come again the next night, and the next.

It looks like I’ll be having a few more nights out this summer.

Events

Summer Holiday Rock Pooling Events in Cornwall – The Full List

July 16, 2017 Heather Buttivant 5 Comments

Here it is… the 2017 list of summer rockpooling events in Cornwall during the holidays. It’s the best ever, with events to suit all the family!

Take a look below to see what’s on near you. There’s no better way to make the most of your rock pooling than to join the experts to find amazing marine creatures and learn all about them.

All you need are: some sturdy rockpooling shoes like wellies, neoprene beach shoes or wetsuit boot (not flip flops or crocs); a bucket, and sun protection.

Please check the organiser’s page carefully for the exact details and any alterations. You will need to book in advance for some of these events.

Happy rockpooling! Maybe see you there?

FRIDAY 28TH JULY, 14.00-16.00, St Michael’s Mount. Rockpool Explorer with the National Trust https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/795f56c8-54f5-4205-acde-482402421940/pages/details

SUNDAY 6TH AUGUST, 10.00 – 12.00, St Michael’s Mount. Rockpool Explorer with the National Trust (Scroll to the bottom of the following web page for this date) https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/795f56c8-54f5-4205-acde-482402421940/pages/details

MONDAY 7TH AUGUST, 12.00 – 13.30, Northcott, Bude. Hurray for Honeycomb with Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Meet at Northcott Mouth National Trust car park, Bude http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2017/01/06/hurray-honeycomb?instance=0

TUESDAY 8TH AUGUST, 11.30 – 13.30. Polzeath. Rockpool Ramble with Polzeath Marine Conservation Group and the National Trust, BOOKING ESSENTIAL https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/4d6bf7a6-558b-4e53-b1c1-3929cec9591e/pages/details

WEDNESDAY 9TH AUGUST, 11.00 – 13.00. Mousehole. St Piran’s Crab Search with Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Mousehole (Meet in Car Park, The Parade, by The Rock Pool Café) http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2017/01/06/st-pirans-crab-search?instance=0

THURSDAY 10TH AUGUST, 13.00 – 15.00. Falmouth Harbour. Horrible Beasts Up the Creek. With Cornwall Wildlife Trust. BOOKING ESSENTIAL – Falmouth – location provided on booking. http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2017/01/06/horrible-beasts-creek?instance=0

THURSDAY 10TH AUGUST, 13.00 – 15.00 Lantivet Bay. Rockpooling with the National Trust. Free no booking required https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/0916c2da-8026-4e5e-a507-5d6c413e46a0/pages/details

FRIDAY 11TH AUGUST, 13.00 – 15.00. Marazion. Strandline Scramble – looking for creatures washed up by the tide. With Cornwall Wildlife Trust. BOOKING ESSENTIAL http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2017/01/06/strandline-scramble?instance=0

FRIDAY 11TH AUGUST, 14.00-16.00. St Michael’s Mount Causeway. Rockpool Explorer with the National Trust. (Scroll to the bottom of the following web page for this date) https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/795f56c8-54f5-4205-acde-482402421940/pages/details

SATURDAY 12TH AUGUST, 14.30 – 16.00. Hannafore, Looe. Rock Pool Ramble with Looe Marine Conservation Group http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2016/12/23/summer-holiday-rockpool-ramble?instance=0

MONDAY 14TH AUGUST, 15.00 – 17.00 Polzeath, Rock Pooling and Beach Games with Wild Thymes. BOOKING ESSENTIAL http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2017/01/26/rock-pooling-and-beach-fun-wild-thymes?instance=0

SATURDAY 19TH AUGUST, 21.30 – 23.30. Durgan. Night Time Rock Pooling with Cornwall Wildlife Trust. BOOKING ESSENTIAL – No children under 12. http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2017/01/06/night-rockpooling?instance=0

SUNDAY 20TH AUGUST, 10.00-12.00. St Michael’s Mount Causeway. Rockpool Explorer with the National Trust. (Scroll to the bottom of the following web page for this date) https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/795f56c8-54f5-4205-acde-482402421940/pages/details

MONDAY 21ST AUGUST, 11.00-13.00. Polzeath. Rockpool Ramble with Polzeath Marine Conservation Group and National Trust. BOOKING ESSENTIAL (Scroll to the bottom of the page for this date) https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/4d6bf7a6-558b-4e53-b1c1-3929cec9591e/pages/details

TUESDAY 22ND AUGUST, 11.00 – 13.00. Polzeath. Radical Rockpooling with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and the Polzeath Marine Conservation Group. BOOKING ESSENTIAL – Children over 11 only. http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2017/01/26/radical-rock-pooling?instance=0

WEDNESDAY 23RD AUGUST, 11.00 – 13.00. Hannafore, Looe. Rockpool Safari Time with Fox Club, Junior branch of Cornwall Wildlife Trust. BOOKING ESSENTIAL http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2017/01/05/rockpool-safari-time?instance=0

WEDNESDAY 23RD AUGUST, 12.30 – 14.30. Camel (Location available on booking). Rockpool Ramble with Fox Club, Junior branch of Cornwall Wildlife Trust. BOOKING ESSENTIAL http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2017/04/20/rockpool-ramble?instance=0

THURSDAY 24TH AUGUST, 13.00 – 15.00. Polzeath. Rock Pool Ramble with Polzeath Marine Conservation Group BOOKING ESSENTIAL http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2017/01/26/rock-pool-ramble?instance=4

FRIDAY 25TH AUGUST, 14.00-16.00. St Michael’s Mount Causeway. Rockpool Explorer with the National Trust. (Scroll to the bottom of the following web page for this date) https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/795f56c8-54f5-4205-acde-482402421940/pages/details

Can’t see your event? Please let me know of any additions or alterations to this list and I’ll be delighted to share them.

Events

Rock Pooling and Marine Events in Cornwall this Summer

July 19, 2015 Heather Buttivant 9 Comments

The summer holidays are a great time to explore the Cornish rock pools. What better way to discover the crabs, fish, starfish, anemones and a host of other animals found around our shores than to join a guided event? You’ll have the experts on hand to tell you all about the animals and how they live and as part of a group, you’ll get to see everyone’s finds.

Here’s a summary of rockpooling and marine events this summer, which are all listed on the Cornwall Wildlife Trust events pages.

If you can’t make it to a group event, my pages on how to rockpool will help you make the most of your trip. Just click on beaches tab above to find a great rockpooling location near you.

Please check the organiser’s site for full details, any booking requirements and changes before attending. In all cases, children must be accompanied by an adult and wear suitable weather protection and footwear.

JULY

24 July – Family Rock Pool Explore at Kingsand. 11.00. Booking essential for this fun rockpooling event for 5-11 year olds with Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Cost: £1 donation to Fox Club.

26 July – Seaweeds and Seaweed Pressing with Angie Gall at Trebah Garden, Helford. 10.00 – 12.30. Booking essential. Suitable for all ages, this workshop is a great chance to meet an expert and learn about seaweeds. Organised by Helford Voluntary Marine Conservation Association.

28 July – Helford Snorkel Safari. Details available on booking – booking essential. A chance for experienced snorkelers and confident swimmers age 8+ to enjoy a guided one-hour snorkel with local experts from Cornwall Wildlife Trust. £5.

29 July – Get Crafty at Polzeath. 10.30 – 12.30. Marine themed arts and crafts with the Polzeath Marine Conservation Group at the Marine Centre in Polzeath. £2 per person (free for members).

31 July – Rockpool Ramble at Cape Cornwall. 11.00 – 13.00 with the experts from Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

31 July – Carnival Rockpool Ramble at Hannafore Beach, West Looe. 11.30 – 13.00. Join the Looe Marine Conservation Group experts to explore the shore during Looe’s Carnival week.

31 July – Rockpool Ramble at Spit Beach, Par. 11.30 – 13.30. Join the experts from the Friends of the Fowey Estuary to explore the shore. £2.50 for non-members.

31 July – Rockpool Ramble at Polzeath. 11.30 – 13.30. Booking essential. Join the Polzeath Marine Conservation experts to explore the shore. £2 for non-members.

AUGUST

2 August – Rockpool Photography at Durgan on the Helford 14.00 – 16.00. Booking essential. Suitable for families. Find out how to get great shots using your basic camera including phone cameras.

3 August – Beach Treasure Trail near Newquay. 13.00 – 15.00. Booking essential. A fun trail using a treasure map for primary aged children – collect natural materials along the way.

3 August – Beach Treasure Trail near Crantock. 13.00 – 15.00. Booking essential. A fun trail using a treasure map for primary aged children – collect natural materials along the way.

4 August – Rockpool Ramble at Swanpool, Falmouth. 14.30 – 16.30. Explore the shore with experts from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

5^th August – Wild Wednesdays Seashore Shenanigans nr The Lizard – 14.00 – 16.00. Rockpooling for primary aged children with the Wild Lizard Ranger. Contact claire.scott@nationaltrust.org.uk for further details.

5 August – Beach Art fun with Frugi on The Lizard at Kennack Sands. 14.00 – 16.00. Beach art for all the family with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Team and with Prizes from Frugi children’s clothes.

12 August – Wild Wednesdays Seashore Shenanigans nr The Lizard. 10.00 -12.00. Rockpooling for primary aged children with the Wild Lizard Ranger. Contact claire.scott@nationaltrust.org.uk for further details.

14 August – Mad About Mud at West Looe. 11.00 – 14.00. Booking essential. Join experts from Looe Marine Conservation Group and the Friends of Kilminorth Wood to discover the marine life of the Looe estuary. Suitable for all ages.

16 August – Public Sea Watch near Tintagel. 11.00 – 14.00. Look out for seals, basking sharks, sunfish, dolphins and other marine life with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust experts.

17 August – Beach Games near Newquay. 12.00 – 14.00. Booking essential. Learn about sea creatures then become them as you complete fun games and activities. For primary age children.

17 August – Newquay evening boat safari. 18.00 – 20.00. Booking essential. Discover the coastal and marine wildlife of Newquay with local expert Dave Thomas – birds, seals and more.

18 August – Fowey Marine Day at Fowey Town Quay. 10.00 – 16.00. A day of fun activities including meeting huge crabs with Friends of Fowey Estuary and Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

19 August – Wild Wednesdays Seashore Shenanigans nr The Lizard – 14.00 – 16.00. Rockpooling for primary aged children with the Wild Lizard Ranger. Contact claire.scott@nationaltrust.org.uk for further details.

24-28 August – Seaquest South West Road Show – at various locations. The Seaquest Southwest team will be touring the county, providing nformation, games and activities to teach people about whales, dolphins, sunfish, seals and basking sharks. Details available on request from seaquest@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk

26 August – Wild Wednesdays Seashore Shenanigans nr The Lizard. 14.00 -16.00. Rockpooling for primary aged children with the Wild Lizard Ranger. Contact claire.scott@nationaltrust.org.uk for further details.

29 August – Seashore Forage and Feast at Poltesco nr The Lizard. 10.30 – 14.30. Booking essential. Suitable for children aged 7+. Explore the shore, learn what’s edible and join the rangers to cook over a fire. £5 per child, £10 per adult – includes foraged lunch. http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/whatson/events_pages/Seashore_forage_and_feast_near_The_Lizard

29 August – Rummage in a rockpool nr Penzance. 11.30 – 13.30. Booking essential. Join Cornwall Wildlife Trust experts to explore the shore. Suitable for primary aged children.

Have fun! If you know of other events please contact me and I’ll add them – and don’t forget to let me know what wildlife you find this summer.

A Cornish clingfish, Lepadogaster lepadogaster

Beaches, Starfish, Urchins and Sea Cucumbers, Wildlife

A very British beach picnic.

May 6, 2015 Heather Buttivant 3 Comments

It’s bank holiday Monday and, by rights, the beaches should be packed with tourists, but this is a British bank holiday complete with the standard issue of drizzle and greyness. We seem to be the only people who’ve come for a picnic today.

A very un-summery bank holiday at Plaidy beach near Looe

Cornish Rock Pools junior and his Dad undertake mega-engineering projects on the stream while I explore the rock pools, eager to put my new camera through its paces.

Pleased to meet you! A broad-clawed porcelain crab extends a claw. Cornish Rock Pools — Pleased to meet you! A broad-clawed porcelain crab extends a claw.

It seems that the wildlife has also gone to ground, as though the animals have moved further out to sea during the heavy rains. The regulars are still here though, lurking in the murky water.

Green shore crabs abound among the rocks.

Under almost every rock there are young edible crabs shunting sand over themselves while larger green shore crabs run for cover.

In a pool that threatens to over-top my wellies, I find a pheasant shell going about its business. I can barely see it in the silty water as it makes its way along the red seaweed. Under the camera, its neat maroon stripes become more visible and I can see its tentacles flopping over the edge of the weed.

A pheasant shell undeterred by the silty water

A grey heron is fishing in the farthest pools. As the waves begin to slosh up the gulley, a cormorant flies in and takes up position behind the heron, where it stays for the next half hour. I hunt the mid-shore for the ever illusive starfish, Asterina phylactica.

The first Asterina phylactica starfish I find is especially tiny.

The first of these minute starfish I find is so small that I can barely see it among the weed. It moves remarkably quickly, sliding round the branching tuft of pink coralline seaweed and disappearing from view each time I try to focus on it.

Other half sidles over and asks about the sandwiches. I realise I’ve been staring into this pool for way too long and somehow I’ve managed to soak my fringe and my coat sleeves in my enthusiasm, but I’m not quite ready to give up. Eventually I’m rewarded by finding a larger, brighter specimen, which I photograph with numb fingers.

A slightly larger, more brightly coloured Asterina phylactica starfish.

Asterina phylactica starfish - well worth the time spent searching. — Asterina phylactica starfish – well worth the time spent searching.

The drizzle sets in properly as we begin our picnic. Cornish Rock Pools junior builds a shelter under his Dad’s coat and happily munches on sandwiches and biscuits. I flex my fingers and am just beginning to sense the return of some sort of blood flow when I remember the bucket. I definitely had it and now I don’t. Other half and I mount a search party, but he heroically sends me back to the chocolate digestives while he continues the hunt.

Cornish Rock Pools junior makes his picnic shelter.

After several long minutes of searching, the tide and mist closing around him, he lifts the bucket aloft and junior and I clap and cheer with our mouths full.

Soon the cliffs are disappearing in the fog and the rain sets in properly. As the oystercatchers sweep in, we hastily pack up our very British picnic and leave the beach completely deserted.

A snakelocks anemone among the sea lettuce.

Anemones and Jellyfish, Beaches, Molluscs, Wildlife

Pirate Rock Pooling Adventure

September 28, 2014 Heather Buttivant 5 Comments

The leaves are turning, the swallows are no longer dipping over the rock pools, but this long, warm Cornish summer never seems to end. We set sail from Hannafore over a barely rippling sea in the good ship Red Canoe to seek secret beaches, pirate caves and, of course, photos of interesting marine creatures. Continue reading Pirate Rock Pooling Adventure →

Beaches, Books

The Selfish Shellfish – The story of a Cornish Rock Pool

August 2, 2014 Heather Buttivant Leave a comment

It feels like we’re living out a scene from the children’s picture book about a Cornish rock pool, The Selfish Shellfish.

I’m with the author, Grandma Paint Pot (Donna Painter), on Castle Beach in Falmouth, where her story is set. The tide is rising fast and we’re slithering about on a wet rock while we watch limpets, top shells and anemones coming to life as the waves push in. Continue reading The Selfish Shellfish – The story of a Cornish Rock Pool →

Events

‘The best day of my life.’ – Rockpooling with Cornwall Home Educators

July 30, 2014 Heather Buttivant Leave a comment

It’s amazing to watch the rock pools appear. Just an hour ago, as we ate our picnic on Hannafore beach, two ladies were swimming just a hundred metres away. Now the tide has slipped back to reveal the dark, alluring rocks. An egret flies down to stalk the distant pools and oystercatchers follow, trilling loudly.