Norfolk Wildlife Trust holding Cley Calling event

The annual World Ocean Day, held this year on June 8, is designed to provide an opportunity for us to celebrate the seas and oceans that connect us all.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Cley Calling Festival is entitled Coastal Currents, at which we will be inviting you to our Cley Marshes nature reserve to celebrate World Ocean Day with our week-long marine-themed extravaganza. This year we will be focusing on our coastal environments.          

Our oceans provide some mind-boggling statistics. Seas and oceans cover more than 70 per cent of our planet’s surface, with 97.5 per cent of the Earth’s water being found in them.

According to the UK geological survey that’s 321,003,271 cubic miles of ocean. How many Olympic swimming pools or average British baths that equates to is anyone’s guess! (Although in gallons, I’m reliably informed, it is approximately 355,670 followed by another fifteen zeros).

Given the vast size of the oceans, it is impossible to know how many species live within them, many oceanic scientists estimate that 80 per cent of saltwater species are yet to be classified.

Perhaps it’s this vastness that leads us into falsely believing it is an infinite resource, and a bottomless sink for the constant and ever increasing pollution that we pour into it. Our planet’s oceans will only take so much exploitation and we are already seeing large scale ecosystem breakdowns, such as the bleaching and dying of coral reefs. We have already brought about the near extinction of several types of whale, the over fishing – to the point of collapse – of species such as herring, and the creation of the shameful Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

This vortex of plastic waste, gathered together by ocean currents near the Hawaiian Islands, is so large it covers an area greater than France and Spain combined.  

To raise awareness of the fragile nature of our marine environments and to celebrate their magnificence, Norfolk Wildlife Trust is organizing a week of World Ocean Day activities.

Why not head to the coast and mull over the marine in a range of events from book talks and art workshops to family events and folk music?

High profile speakers have made the line-up, with both Patrick Barkham (author and journalist) and Charles Clover (Blue Marine Foundation) joining the Trust to give evening talks.

Patrick’s event focuses on Roger Deakin, who is fondly known as the Patron Saint of Wild Swimming, and Charles will be talking about his recent work ‘Rewilding the Sea’, an essential and revelatory book from a leading figure in marine conservation.

Other evening events include a barbecue with an evening walk on the reserve, where you can enjoy the coastal environment at Cley, and a folk music gig from popular local folk musicians Christina Alden and Alex Patterson.

Clare Whitelegg, Cley engagement officer, said: ‘We’ve chosen to focus this festival on celebrating marine wildlife and our beautiful coastline. We’ve included something for everyone in the programme – there's no need to be an expert on marine life or even to know much about wildlife at all, there are lots of opportunities to learn!

“We look forward to inviting you to Cley to celebrate the sea through walks, art, music and family activities, or just by enjoying unrivalled panoramic views of our wild and mysterious coast from the Visitor Centre.”

The festival caters for the whole family, with the opportunity to explore the shingle beach and get crafty in a Coastal Creations session, or to join one of Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s popular Plankton Parties.

In this session there’s a chance to focus a microscope on the tiny – but very important – animals that live in the sea. Other opportunities to learn about marine life are a day-long workshop about Whales and Dolphins or a guided walk serving as an introduction to the Birds of Cley.

And last, but certainly not least, festival-goers are invited to help Norfolk’s marine life by taking part in a group beach clean.

Whether you live on the coast or far inland, we all need healthy seas and oceans. They generate most of the oxygen we breathe, help feed us, and regulate the climate. By protecting our oceans now, we are protecting our future and that of generations to come. 

For further information and to book tickets for this year’s Cley Calling Festival, visit: www.cleycalling.com