The Seashore CARE Code

• Carefully observe wildlife and leave it for others to enjoy - take photos not living thing, and make sure any shells you collects are empty.

• Always leave the shore as you find - replace any rocks or seaweed you overturn and return animals to where you found them.

• Rubbish doesn't belong here - take it home with you and report any unusual washed-up drums or containers

• Enjoy the coast safely - watch out for hazards and always check the tide timetables

Respect all wildlife Remember they are living animals that can hurt you just as much as you can hurt them (even though they don’t mean to! Put rocks back where you found them Leave creatures in rock pools They will die if you move them Refill any holes you dig Do not poke or squeeze any animals They feel pain too! Only collect empty shells These are the animals homes that are thier proction! Always stay with a adult Watch out for the incoming tide tide times are aviable from the seashorecentre Beware of falling rocks from the cliffs above you. Take your litter home.

Show Respect for Seashore Creatures

Seashore creatures are fascinating and have found special ways of living in their environment. They to adopt to survive the rigours of wave-action, exposure and predation. Some have shells for protection, but many need to hide under rocks, seaweed or in the sands.

Exploring the seashore is fun, but please remember:

• Leave animals where you find them.
• Take care when touching soft bodied animals. - They are very delicate.
• Carefully lift and replace any rocks you may have moved. – There are animals underneath which need them for shelter.
• Leave attach seaweed in place. – There is plenty lying loose on the strand line.
• Do not trample through rockpools.

Take Photos, not Living Animals

Shells  come in all shapes, sizes and colours. Many still contain living animals, even if they do look “dead”. If you want to collect shells, please make sure they are empty before taking them home.

If you want to buy a souvenir:

• Buy a photograph, book or poster of colourful marine creatures rather than shells, coral, starfish and urchins or other “marine curios”.
• Remember “curios” would almost certainly have been alive, when collector.
• If we don’t buy them, the shops won’t sell them.

Avoid Disturbing Wildlife

You can see many animals at their best when they are behaving naturally. This is true for animals such as seals. Otters and seabirds, as well as rockpool animals.

To avoid disturbing wildlife:

• It is best to watch  from a distance, through binoculars if possible, especially if the animals are nesting, or pupping in the case of seals.
• Keep you dog clear of bird and other animals.
• Remember, it is now illegal to disturb or harass many species of birds and animals.

Take your Rubbish Home with you

Beach rubbish is unsightly and can be dangerous to sea creatures. Much of the litter on our shores comes from tourists, shipping, fishing vessels and sewage outfalls.

You can help to reduce this problems when visiting the coast:

• Take your rubbish home. – Burying it is no solution.
• Keep your dog from fouling the beach.
• Report canister or drums washed up on the beach, but not touch them.
• Bag it and bin, please don’t flush it. – Bag and bin all plastic bathroom waste such as cotton bud sticks.

Watch where you Go

Beaches and sand dunes are prone to erosion and easily damaged by people and vehicles.

To help protect the coast:

• Keep to established paths and dune boardwalks.
• Park in designated car park and keep access to footpaths clear.
• Do not use beaches or dunes for scrambling motorcycles or other “off road” vehicles.
• If you dig holes un the beach, please fill them up again.
• Leave pebbles and rocks on the beach rather than collect them for you garden.

Be Careful!

All cliffs are unstable and potencially dangerous, yet they are an impressive sight and the clifftop offers panoramic views of the coastline. Cliffs also provide a very specialised habitat for the plants and animals that live on them.

Take care near cliffs:

• Remember that it is dangerous to climb up or go near the top or bottom of a cliff.
• Please don’t throw or push anything over the edge of cliffs. As well as being dangerous, it can increase the rate of cliff erosion and kill or disturb wildlife.

Play safe on the beach too:

• Check tide times to avoid being cut off.
• Keep away from soft sand an mud. – It is easy to get stuck!