Beaches and coasts

In the UK no one lives more than 80 miles (130 km) from the seashore. Wildlife habitats around our coast include: cliffs, rocky shores, sandy beaches and dunes, muddy estuaries, as well as bustling seaside towns and cities. Beaches and coastal habitats are fantastic places for wildlife watching.

Along our beaches, debris swept in by the tides are deposited along the high tide line. These strandlines are great for beachcombing; a treasure trove of washed up seaweeds, shells and driftwood – anything can turn up! Sadly along most beaches there will also be plastic bottles, polystyrene, nylon rope and other human rubbish which pollutes our seas. On rocky shores, as the tide falls, a wonderful world of rockpools is revealed giving a glimpse into the usually hidden world of marine wildlife. Along parts of the coast seals, dolphins and even whales can sometimes be seen.

Did you know?

Britain has some of the most important sea bird colonies in the world – 80% of the world’s gannets breed around the British coast.

Wildlife to look out for:

Birds: Herring gulls, common terns, oystercatchers, gannets, puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes and on muddy and sandy shores wading birds such as dunlins, sanderlings,redshanks, curlews and godwits.

Mammals: Grey seals, common seals, harbour porpoise, otters.

Plants: Marine algae including wracks and sea lettuce, sea-lavender, glasswort, sea holly, sea aster, sea bindweed, yellow horned-poppy, marram grass, cord grass.

Minibeasts: Barnacles, mussels, shore crabs, hermit crabs, shrimps, prawns, starfish, sand hoppers, whelks, razor shells.