Natural England

According to research just published by Natural England only 18% of people living in the south west believe that our region’s seas contain diverse undersea landscapes. People know and love the South West Coast Path but most have no idea what amazing features exist under the adjacent sea.

Nationally, less than 1% of the population can name a feature of the landscape under English seas, and 44% of the population think the undersea is utterly, generally or mostly barren in ‘their’ region.

According to Natural England there is so much more to discover in our undersea landscapes – forests of kelp, soft meadows of seagrass, rocky cliffs smothered with jewel anemones, corals and sponges, and open waters which are the haunt of basking sharks, turtles and dolphins.

“We are fortunate, there is an incredible medley of landscapes and marine life around the south west” said Natural England’s regional director, Janette Ward. “Our undersea environment has dramatic landscapes with valleys, hills, plains and cliffs and is a source of intrigue and fascination. There are all these great places under the waves. For example, spectacular undersea cliffs around the Eddystone, and seagrass meadows in Torbay”.

Natural England has designed a series of maps which show the beauty and variety of England’s undersea landscapes. A national map will be published this week in BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE (October edition, out 25 Sept). It will accompany an article called ‘Discover England’s super seas’ written by Tooni Mahto, one of the presenters of BBC2’s forthcoming series, OCEANS. Natural England has also created five regional maps, including one for the seas off south west, showing the diversity of animals and plants that live in our seas in more detail - a diversity among the highest in Europe.

The maps form part of Natural England’s undersea landscapes campaign which, throughout the summer, has been encouraging people to find out more about the richness of their local marine habitats and wildlife by attending free marine-themed events. One of these took place last month as part of the Bristol Harbourside Festival. Children made undersea landscapes in a shoebox, fish kites, basking shark models, crab door guards, peacock worms, marine murals and cuttlefish finger puppets.

Visitors who lived in the centre of the country said it was really refreshing to learn about the sea. An 81-year lady who watched her gaggle of grandchildren take part in a workshop and get immersed into the sand, cardboard, paint and glitter said: " I have learnt more about the seas where I live in the past 45 minutes than I have in my entire life.

Janette Ward continued: “It had been fantastic to see people enjoying this fun way of exploring of what exists under the sea. You see their faces light up and they want to learn more.”

Natural England intends to run more marine-themed events throughout the country in 2009. To find out more about Natural England’s marine campaign and to download all the regional maps, visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk/campaigns/marine

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Notes for editors

1. Maps: a JPEG of the south west undersea map is available on request.

Photos: of local marine wildlife & habitats and Natural England’s ‘Summer 2008 tour’ of marine-themed events are available on request.

2. The research was carried out through Campaign Strategy Ltd. Visit www.campaignstrategy.org or see the full report.

3. The UK is committed to delivering a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around its coastline by 2012. These MPAs will give various degrees of protection to undersea landscapes and marine life. Natural England will be a key delivery body for these MPAs. The process of identifying possible MPA sites and designating them in English Territorial waters will involve consulting with stakeholders and will also benefit greatly from public support.

4. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. It conserves and enhances the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

For more information and photos contact the press office:
Martin Gershon
Tel: 07900 608364