Exploring the Lancashire Living Seas Wildlife Trail

Exploring the Lancashire Living Seas Wildlife Trail

Our valued Vice-Chair trustee Hazel Ryan enjoys a day exploring the Lancashire Living Seas Wildlife Trail along Rossall point and Fleetwood.
Rossall Point Observation Tower

Rossall Point Observation Tower

Are you sitting comfortably?

Then I’ll begin by telling you a story of mermaids and their purses, of whelks and sharks, of seals and seaweed, as I sit in the storytelling chair. And the storytelling chair is such a dramatic, beautiful piece of furniture that it would inspire anyone and everyone to dream of the sea and its secrets. I was lucky enough to get to sit in this chair in early August as I gathered with Lancashire Wildlife Trust, our partners and volunteers to celebrate the launch of the Lancashire Living Seas Wildlife Trail at Rossall Point Tower near Fleetwood. We heard more about the stories helping people understand the sea, connect with nature and get outdoors.  I discovered the story of the journey of Ayla, the little cucumber fish of Wyre and her friend, Cato the Shore Crab, a story I shared with my niece when I got home. This tale is one of various family stories, highlighting the hidden depths of our wonderful Morecambe Bay and Irish Sea, all specially designed to engage children, and available on the website.

Hazel Ryan sitting on Lancashire Living Seas storytelling throne

Hazel Ryan sitting on Lancashire Living Seas storytelling throne

Your Wildlife Trust was supported in the creation of the trail by a number of partners, including funding from Wyre Borough Council, Lancashire Environment Fund and Landfill Communities fund, all of whom worked together to produce the Lancashire Living Seas Wildlife Trail. It runs along the promenade from Rossall (Old Hospital Car Park) to Fleetwood (by the Boating Lake).

The trail uses QR code signposts to help people connect to the wildlife that calls the Irish Sea home, and helps communities learn more about species that live there.

A ringed plover by Alan Price

A ringed plover by Alan Price

The sunshine on the day meant that the sea and the sands looked their absolute best, despite the odd rumble from the sea defence works taking place nearby.  It gave us an opportunity to go up to the top of this amazing “space age” tower to see the view.  And what a view it was, taking in Barrow, Heysham, Arnside Knot but sadly not the Isle of Man on this occasion.  I chatted with one of the observatory tower volunteers and he explained to me how rare it was to be up there with only a breath of wind – not your usual Fleetwood weather.  He has seen grey seals and seal pups from the view point, wandering over from the colony on Walney. He has his fingers crossed that when the big sea defence rocks are in place, the seals will come over to this shore, haul out and have a bask in the sun in front of him. Sadly, he explained he had never seen a mermaid…

We heard another lovely story of the Balfour Beatty sea defence workers taking the most delicate care of nesting ringed plovers, and guarding their chicks – we can all do our bit for wildlife in whatever situation we are in.

Gutweed (Ulva intestinalis)

Gutweed (Ulva intestinalis)

A good cup of tea was needed after being in the sunshine, looking at that marvellous view and I was served by another welcoming volunteer.  She was so inspiring, explaining what she had learnt, how important wildlife is and how we must protect it.  She urged me to explore the rock pool exhibit - she was passionate about all the different types of seaweed that she had discovered.  I did just that and had a very informative chat with a colleague from Cumbria Wildlife Trust.  I was given a microscope to look at what I thought was seaweed (but which was in fact, groups of tiny creatures living together).  I handled some Gutweed (Ulva intestinalis), a bright green edible seaweed, but its name rather put me off!

Mermaid's purse. Photo by Amy Shakeshaft

Mermaid's purse. Photo by Amy Shakeshaft

I was shown different types of mermaid purses which are the egg cases of sharks and rays. I discovered that catsharks are common in the Irish Sea and lots of their young can be found swimming around the Barrow area. Whelk egg cases look like bits of sponge, and nothing like whelks. I came away feeling there is so much that is hidden there to be discovered. Assuming the sea is dirty and polluted and nothing lives there is so far from the truth. The sea is an amazing eco-system that keeps our planet in balance and needs our protection.  We rely on the oxygen it produces and the food resources it provides. In fact, the oxygen for one in two breaths taken on earth is produced by ocean living algae. That is half of the breaths we take!

Finally, for me, a good walk along the beach or stroll along the prom clears my head of all the clutter that gathers there, day- to -day.

Grey seal pup by Tom Marshall

Grey seal pup by Tom Marshall

Getting out in the fresh air and making a difference to your local environment is part and parcel of the small group sessions run by the award-winning wellbeing project – “The Bay, A blueprint for recovery”. It operates in Wyre (and also Morecambe and Barrow), with a variety of different activities, such as identifying wildlife on the beach. Wellbeing sessions take place at Rossall Observation Tower on Tuesdays. Booking is required, and more detail can be found here.

 

I shall bring my family back to walk the trail before summer ends, and you never know, we might see Cato the shore crab. If we are really lucky and it is one of those magical days, we might just catch a glimpse of a mermaid…