A series of marine-themed public events is being staged this summer by Wembury Marine Centre at its home on the beautiful coastline just a few miles south west of Plymouth city centre. The events promise to take people on a journey of discovery to meet the creatures that share Wembury’s rocky shoreline.

The charity Devon Wildlife Trust has operated Wembury Marine Centre since its opening in summer 1994.

Wembury Marine Centre opens from spring to autumn each year. The Centre itself offers visitors a brief introduction to the area and its wildlife, while also acting as a base for Devon Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers. It’s estimated that more than half and million people have passed through its doors over the past three decades. 

But this is only one aspect of Wembury’s work. Staff and volunteers also take their expertise into local schools, highlighting to generations of young people around Devon the rich diversity of the UK’s marine wildlife and how they can play a part in caring for it.

Each summer Wembury also runs a seasonal programme of outdoor events. The Centre’s ever-popular Rockpool Safaris take visitors on a guided discovery of nearby tidal pools to see at first hand the weird and wonderful wildlife which lives there.

In recent years Centre staff have taken the sense of adventure to even greater depths, adding Snorkel Safaris and Nighttime Safaris to their calendar of events. During this time Wembury Marine Centre has also acted as a hub for some serious scientific research, coordinating the training of volunteers who undertake citizen science checks on a wide range of marine wildlife, from what is washed up on local beaches to recording sightings of the sea’s biggest animals, including whales, sharks, dolphins and porpoises.

Wembury Marine Centre was the vision of marine biologist, the late Dr Norman Holme. Over the last three decades it has seen many changes, having been refurbished in 2006 and again in 2020, benefitted from the dedication of hundreds of volunteers as its seasonal marine wardens and run thousands of wildlife-themed events. However, just three people have acted as Wembury Marine Centre’s manager. The latest of these is Coral Smith who has worked at Wembury Marine Centre since 2014.

Coral Smith said:

“There are so many people to thank for getting and keeping us here: our funding partners [listed below], Devon Wildlife Trust members and the thousands of people who have joined our events. But without a doubt my greatest thanks go to the hundreds of volunteers who have donned a yellow Wembury polo shirt and supported us over the past 30 years – we’d be nothing without our yellow army!”

Marine Biologist Dr Paul Naylor lives in Wembury and is Chair of Wembury Marine Conservation Area Advisory Group. Dr Naylor said:

“On top of its wonderful biodiversity and fascinating natural history, Wembury is a spark that ignites and fuels the passion of countless marine biologists and conservationists over the generations. The Marine Centre is the heart of that inspiration, and you only need to need to watch the reaction of a few people after their first rockpool ramble, snorkel safari or even just a look round the centre, to appreciate it. We see all that in the local community and feel blessed to have a nationally-renowned Centre on our doorstep, that we can be proud to support.”

Jonathan Fisher, is General Manager for the National Trust South and East Devon, one of Wembury Marine Centre’s partners. Jonathan Fisher, said:

“The National Trust congratulates all involved in the Wembury Marine Centre on reaching its 30th birthday. The partnership with all stakeholders is highly valued and I’d like to thank all the staff and volunteers for the amazing work that they continue to do to promote community use, conservation, access to and understanding of our precious marine environment.”

Coral Smith and her team of 40 volunteer marine wardens are planning to mark Wembury Marine Centre’s big birthday in style with a series of Rockpool Safaris (dates including Sunday 4, Tuesday 6, Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 August); a Tots and Toddlers Rockpool Safari aimed at younger visitors (Friday 2 August) and Snorkel Safaris (Wednesday 7 and Saturday 10 August). All are welcome: details of times and bookings can be found at the ‘What's on' page here.

Wembury Marine Centre is managed by Devon Wildlife Trust on behalf of a partnership of funders – Devon County Council, Devon Wildlife Trust, National Trust, South Hams District Council and the University of Plymouth's Marine Institute, with support and guidance from the Wembury Marine Conservation Area Advisory Group.