IT'S the summer holidays and here in South Cumbria we live right on the cusp of so many beautiful beaches.
Right on our doorstep we have Walney beach, Aldingham, Bardsea and Roanhead and, if everybody follows the correct safety procedures and beach etiquette, they can make a fantastic day out for children of any age.
As if you needed another reason to get closer to nature, it's National Marine Week until Wednesday and there are plenty of activities to attend for free.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust hopes Marine Week will kick off a celebration of Britain’s marine life and encourage people to uncover the secrets of the Irish Sea.
In Cumbria a string of coastal events including rock-pooling, mud-dipping, shore searches, sea watches, guided walks and coastal seascape painting days have been organised to educate children about their fascinating environment.
Jade Chenery, 24, a marine and coastal conservation officer trainee based between the Cumbria Wildlife Trust's head office in Crook Road, Kendal, and South Walney Nature Reserve worked closely with the public for National Marine Week.
She said: "We have a good healthy eco-system here in Cumbria, we have three conservation zones for the Irish Sea and one of them is over on west Walney.
"One of the best things we can do with children is teach them about the intricate habitats that exist in rock pools. We are encouraging families to get stuck in and turn over the rocks.
"The Irish Sea offers a bed of glorious mud which is home to an abundance of worms and molluscs, food to many mammals, fish, crustaceans and birds. This huge foodbank makes for the opportunity to spot some spectacular wildlife.
"We have had a lot of enthusiasm from our whale and dolphin watching days but we need to remember that the ocean doesn't stop at the beach and that is why our rock pool rambles are so important to us this year."
Jade, who has a masters degree in marine biology from Southampton University, is thrilled to be taking a hands-on approach to helping sea creatures.
She said: "It is fascinating working on these beaches up in Cumbria. I have done a lot of work with the RSPB and Wild England in the past but this mud campaign we are running is something totally new and I love it."
If you're wondering exactly which creatures live so close to our Cumbrian beaches, Jade gave a full run down of all the amazing living things in the Irish Sea.
Giant basking sharks and minke whales roam the depths, dolphins and porpoises skim the waves a little closer to home and you can spot some super cute seals around South Walney Nature Reserve.
Dolphins are often spotted offshore by fishermen and porpoises look like slightly uglier dolphins.
Jade's colleague, Dr Emily Baxter, who is based at the Walney reserve, said: "Hundreds of species of plants and animals live in the depths and there are weird and wonderful honeycomb worm reefs spread across our coast that provide a home to many other critters."
There are also projects available for artistic youngsters such as the Beached Art event in which children can make sculptures from sand and paint their own interpretations of the wildlife they find.
READ MORE:
World's best wildlife photos back on display in Cumbria
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