Wildlife-spotting on your beach holiday

This year, Google searches for phrases such as ‘holiday in the UK’ have gone through the roof. A huge percentage of Brits are choosing to play it safe and holiday close to home. Beautiful beaches in Cornwall, Dorset, Norfolk and Yorkshire are just some of the draws around our nature-rich island. 

But how do you keep the children entertained when the novelty of endless sandy beaches has worn off? 

Wildlife! And there’s plenty to be discovered on British beaches. 

Whether you’ve got rock pools to search around or miles of sand, there’s a wide array of wildlife that’ll amaze all ages. Crabs, small fish, sea anemones and barnacles: these are just a few of the natural highlights at the seaside.

Helping you to answer the inevitable questions, starting with “what is it?”, we’ve developed a brief marine wildlife guide and included a few links to informative websites. 

Seaweeds 

Did you know there are more than 600 different species of seaweeds? They’re all large algae, and whilst you’ll spot them on the sand, they never attach to it. Their home is in the sea. 

Washed up within the strand line (amongst other interesting discoveries), bladderwrack (illustrated below) is the most common seaweed to discover. You’ll identify it from the paired ‘bladders’ seen along the fronds. These help it float in the water, which is important to capture sunlight for photosynthesis. It was once used to treat goitres (a swelling of the thyroid gland). 

   

 

Crabs 

Crabs are crustaceans belonging to the BRACHYURA which comes from the ancient Greek meaning short tail. You might find some live crabs washed up in the strand line, but you’re more likely to discover their empty shells. Hunt for them around rock pools too as they’re often hiding at low tide. 

You’ll discover many different crabs on the sandy beaches around the UK. Pennant’s swimming, thumbnail and harbour crabs are just a few to mention. 

Whilst some crabs are edible, many are not. And they are best left to play their part in the important marine ecosystem. 

This Countryfile article provides more information on crabs that are typically found in the UK. The pictures should help you to answer that all-important question – what is it?

 

Shells

Who doesn’t enjoy a stroll along the beach, head down, searching for the best possible shell. Of course, each one was home to a marine animal. They might still be in residence! But if not, the shell will eventually break down to form part of the sand along our coastline. 

If you’re lucky, you might find some shells that are still occupied. This is more likely around rock pools. When devoid of life, they’ll wash up with the tide, gradually breaking into smaller and smaller pieces during each tidal cycle. 

Click here to discover more information on shells in Britain. Learn where you’re most likely to find them and who used to live in them. 

 

Sand hoppers and more 

Small crustaceans, you’ll discover sand hoppers (illustrated below) buried in the sand around the strand line. Easier to spot at night, they come out to feed on the seaweed. As their name suggests, they’re great at jumping and, if you find some to watch, you’ll enjoy the show. 

Mermaid’s purses are often found on our beaches. They’re actually skate or dogfish egg cases. Each one typically holds one embryo and they’re incredibly tough. 

Cuttlebone often washes up on the beach. This is the internal “shell” from cuttlefish which helps their buoyancy in the water when they are alive.  Cuttlebone is a great calcium-rich supplement for caged birds, chinchillas, hermit crabs, reptiles, shrimp, and snails. 

 

There’s no doubt that every sandy beach in the UK is teaming with wildlife if you take time to look. Biodiversity is just as important at sea as on land, but the beaches, which are the bit in between known as the littoral zone, are especially rich in life. And teaching the next generation about this marine wildlife is just one small way everyone on a beach holiday can support the future ecological health of our planet. 

Enjoy your holiday. We’re here when you’re back at work and need help with your planning applications, natural land management, greenspace care and ecological surveys.