Pools that rock

This time of year always makes me long for the sea; for the sound of the waves crashing on to sandy beaches and the cry of a wheeling gull, for the salty sea air and sticky wet sand scrunching between my toes.

The coast of the UK is an awe-inspiring place, from beautiful sweeping bays to secret coves and cliff-lined rocky shores.

With this wide variety of coastal landscapes comes an even wider variety of amazing marine life, some of which can easily be found through the simple, but very rewarding pleasure of rock pooling.

Rock pools are miniature marine worlds, where you’ll find starfish climbing on the rocks and crabs skulking beneath the seaweed. Barnacles and anemones sit waiting for the tide to bring in their banquet of minuscule plants and animals.

Each pool is unique because, depending on its depth, temperature and distance from the sea, you’ll find different creatures thriving there.

Only the hardiest of animals can survive in pools near the high tide line at the top of the beach, so to catch a glimpse of some of the larger rock pool creatures, head down to pools near the water’s edge. Keen rock poolers will know that the best times to go are when the tide is out, exposing lots of rocky and seaweedy pools.

Many of the animals, such as crabs and juvenile fish, hide behind rocks or seaweed, so crouch down and peer in for a good look. If you’re on a sandy beach, you may be able to find creatures such as worms and crabs lurking beneath the sand.

Look out for strange patterns or little holes as the waves gently ebb away, and before they come crashing in again have a very careful dig with your fingers to see what you can find.

Getting up close and personal with sea creatures is a brilliant experience, but always remember to handle them with care, and make sure to return everything to its rightful home.

The animal I always really enjoy finding is a starfish.

These fascinating creatures usually have five arms, with very special ‘feet’ covered with mucus all the way along the underside of each arm.

The sticky suction of these amazing feet help the starfish to walk, eat and breathe. Having multifunctional feet is a very useful trick, but an even better one is the ability to regrow a lost arm, or even deliberately shed it when attacked by a predator.

Readers enjoying their breakfast may wish to skip the next paragraph.

Another special starfish trait is to bring its stomach out through its mouth, and then squeeze it inside shellfish shells to gorge and digest them first, before returning the full stomach back in through its mouth. That way the starfish doesn’t have to eat any gritty shells! Slightly gruesome, but very clever.

Five of the UK’s easiest to see coastal species of starfish are the focus of this year’s National Marine Week through to August 10.

The common, spiny, brittle, bloody Henry starfish and the cushion star are all helping to promote Marine Conservation Zones through a special Starfish Pledge campaign on The Wildlife Trusts’ website.

Simon King, President of The Wildlife Trusts and a keen scuba diver, said: “Starfish are the most instantly recognisable, and perhaps one of our most mysterious, sea species.

“Finding one washed up on the strandline or spotting a starfish in a rock pool is a wildlife memory to treasure.

“Once people know more about the wonders we have in our seas, we have no doubt that many more will want to see our marine habitats and wildlife properly protected.”

Dive in to Tiddler Tales at Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust’s Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre, near Abingdon, on August 5, 6 and 7 and discover the curious creatures that live beneath the waves.

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