The Big Swim
Sarah Ward
Conservation Officer - Marine
Saturday 8th March 2025 marked International Women’s Day, a global day to celebrate the achievements of women - social, economic, cultural, and political.
This year was the third year that The Big Swim was run in Brighton, with 1,000 swimmers braving a dip across two locations (Brighton and Poole). The event was hosted by PinkNicky and Sea Lanes Brighton with the aim of uniting us all through our love of the sea, show our support for women worldwide, and fundraise for Surfers Against Sewage.
Four of us from the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) and Sussex Wildlife Trust donned our togs and some very fancy kelp headdresses (hand crafted by our very own Nikki Oliver, SKRP Project Support Officer) and joined the event.
The event was truly uplifting and a joy to be a part of. We met some wonderful individuals and groups who clearly share our passion for the sea and want to help protect the important wildlife and habitats within it. It was particularly lovely to see some of the Blue Footed Boobies, an all-female swimming group who swam the Channel last year, raising £9,000 for SKRP.
Although the sea was cold, the sun was shining and the mutual support of all those involved turned the initial cold water rush into exhilaration.
Huge thanks to the organisers, and to all those involved in making the event a huge success!