WILDLIFE
NEWS
This summer, discover our seaside superheroes Some of Dorset’s coastal creatures play an important national role in our coastal biodiversity, explains Hazel Ormrod from Dorset Wildlife Trust In Dorset we are lucky to have At Kimmeridge Bay, there will be the most astonishing marine the opportunity to join a dolphin wildlife, from secretive seahorses watching session on the cliff-top and delightful dolphins to look-out, explore underwater colour-changing cuttlefish and marine life on the snorkel trail or rock-licking limpets. The theme take part in eco-friendly crabbing of this year’s Marine Weeks, and rockpooling activities led by from 23rd July to 7th August, is our expert wardens. marine superheroes. Wildlife At the Wild Seas Centre, at Trusts across the UK are shining Kimmeridge, a state-of-thea light on the extraordinary art underwater camera will sea creatures and plants which broadcast live footage to a are helping to fight climate screen inside the centre showing change and Kimmeridge water pollution, Secretive seahorses, Bay beneath or have amazing delightful dolphins, the waves. All superpowers. without getting colour-changing Dorset is a wet! national hotspot cuttlefish and rock- The centre staff for many sea will be getting licking limpets creatures which the microscopes have evolved out on Plankton special talents to help them Day, when visitors can discover survive. One such creature is the amazing diversity of plankton the enigmatic seahorse, unique found in water samples collected because it is the father that gives from Kimmeridge Bay and also birth in a complete gender role learn about the vital role that reversal. In addition, seahorses these miniature organisms play have incredible camouflage skills in our oceans. and the ability to move each eye Over at Chesil Beach, there’s the independently. chance to join the Strandline Another common sight in Dorset Detectives walk, to hunt for waters is the cuttlefish, whose wildlife treasure washed in from greatest superpower is the ability the sea and to find out what lives to become practically invisible by in the deeper water. Or you can instantly changing its colour and take a trip on the glass-bottomed skin texture to blend in perfectly Fleet Explorer boat, which makes with its background. regular trips around part of the spectacular Fleet Lagoon, to Dorset’s marine events explore its incredible underwater To celebrate Marine Weeks, wildlife. Dorset Wildlife Trust has planned a series of special events to get To find out dates, details families and individuals involved and costs of all the events in exploring the seashore and in Dorset (and not just wider marine environment, to for Marine Weeks), go to discover some of the bounty that dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/ these habitats have to offer. events.
A Dorset seahorse Image: Paul Naylor
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