A popular festival is returning to the coast of Cumbria.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust is celebrating marine wildlife and sustainable seafood at SeaFest.

St Bees beach will host a free, action-packed family-friendly celebration of the Irish Sea on Saturday July 29 from 10am to 4pm.

 

SeaFest returns with an army of top local chefs, who will be giving seafood tasters and cooking demonstrations.

Enjoy the chance to take part in citizen science scheme, and the famous annual sand sculpture competition.

There will be various activities such as beach yoga and meditation, arts and crafts, theatre performances, marine-themed games and challenges, rockpool rambles, guided dolphin surveys and kayaking.

 

SeaFest organiser Amber Gould, Marine Project Officer for Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: “The festival is such a great way to get excited and involved with all the wonderful wildlife in our Irish Sea! This year we have a fantastic performance planned by the L’aal Collective that’s all about bringing back abundant wildlife to our oceans. You’ll be able to take part in helping the seas yourself through some citizen science we’re running on the day, as well as exploring the rockpools, and getting a bit competitive with the sand sculpture competition!

“We’re really excited to welcome everyone on Saturday 29 July, to try some local and sustainable seafood, get creative with marine-themed arts and crafts, try your hand at yoga, kayaking or our other activities running on the day. It’s a wonderful chance for us to celebrate all things marine, discover our coastal wildlife and explore how we can enjoy cooking and eating seafood in a way that respects the amazing seabed habitats on our coast.”  

The annual sand sculpture competition begins at 1pm, with generous prizes from Cumbria’s local businesses for the best sea-life sand creatures. The prizes include family tickets for Maryport Aquarium, a voucher for the infinity bridge at Honister Slate Mine, free entry to the Summer Playday sessions at Florence Arts Centre and a family pass to the Lake District Wildlife Park, and more.

Book on the Cumbria Wildlife Trust website at: https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2023-07-29-seafest-west-cumbrias-festival-sea