Five ways to get closer to the ocean

By Sophie Maplesden

Wild Coast Sussex Intern

For National Marine Week, we want to celebrate our ocean and all the ways it impacts our lives. Visiting the sea is a great way to increase your connection to nature. if you are lucky enough to get to the coast, here are five things that you can do to feel more connected:

1. Paddle in the sea

Whenever I’m at the coast I always want to take my shoes and socks off and paddle into the sea. As well as being exciting it can also be a grounding, mindful experience. It engages all of the senses; feeling the cold water wash over your skin and the pebbles underfoot, the sound of the waves breaking on the shore, the smell of the salty sea air.

Something as simple as a paddle can make me feel more present and connected to nature.

A 2021 study by Rickard and White concluded that barefoot walking in blue spaces provided higher levels of nature connectedness and psychological restoration when compared with shoe wearers in the same environments.

2. Rockpooling: identify five species

Rockpooling is a great activity for both adults and kids. I have many great memories rockpooling as a child, but have discovered that rockpooling as an adult can be even better.

Setting yourself the challenge of identifying five species while rockpooling can be a fun, way to challenge yourself while learning about local coastal habitats. The species can include seaweeds, crabs, shellfish, fish... anything! You can use ID guides or simply the internet.

I recently went rockpooling in Eastbourne on Holywell bay and the five species I identified were: 

• Spider crabs
• Goby fish 
• Sea lettuce 
• Snakelocks Anemones
• Piddock shells

3. Joining the Kelp Recording Scheme

While you are out at the beach you might want to keep an eye out for kelp.

Kelp is a vital habitat for many marine species, which the Kelp Restoration Project is trying to restore along the Sussex coast.The Kelp Restoration Project is running a kelp recording scheme in which you can help them monitor the presence of kelp when you report any that you come across. Find out more and sign up to the recording scheme here

4. The Great Eggcase Hunt

When at the beach you might have spotted mermaids purses before. These are egg cases for sharks, skates and rays.

Mermaids purses help us learn more about the populations of these species around Sussex.

The Shark Trust is running The Great Eggcase Hunt, where you can submit pictures and descriptions of any mermaids purses you come across to help them build on their knowledge of sharks, skates and rays in your local area.

Find out more and sign up here 

5. Five minute beach clean

Doing your own quick beach clean can be a great way of increasing your ocean connection. As well as protecting your local coast and the species that live there, it can make the beach a more pleasant place for you and others to enjoy.

Your beach clean can be as small or as big as you like as every little helps.

Here is a blog that tells you how to organise a beach clean if you want to do a more formal event.

We hope you enjoy these five ways to increase your ocean connection and that they inspire you to get out there and dip your toes in.

Happy National Marine Week from the Wild Coast Sussex team!