A number of the children had not visited the beach before and we heard comments like; ‘this is the best day ever’. This is just one amazing comment from Broadway Junior School, Sunderland, which took part in an intergenerational project with Living History North East, working alongside partner Banyan Arts. During the workshops the children […]

It’s all systems go at Seaton Carew as volunteers from Durham Wildlife Trust prepare the nesting site for the return of the little terns. Weighing the same as a tennis ball, these rare seabirds are making their way from West Africa to Seaton Carew to nest on the shingle. Their nests are made in shallow […]

A couple of weeks ago the Beneath the Waves team headed west to give a hand to divers taking part in the project with 3D modelling in the classroom. What a day it was! Many models were produced, some of which will be showcased over the next few weeks. We’re looking forward to putting these […]

Our Volunteer Beach Clean Leaders spent a morning on a training course delivered by Matt Barnes and assisted by Niamh from the Marine Conservation Society. They are now fully trained and set up to conduct their own marine litter surveys which are vital to gather important information on the state of our beaches. We surveyed […]

SeaScapes CoLab invites Queer people, as well as their family and friends, to be part of a series of workshops ran by artist, performer and writer Lizzie Lovejoy. Queer Shores and Seas is a project designed to explore the stories of the Queer people around our North East coastline, from the North of the Tees […]

Our seas are resonant, musical places. Did you know that below the waves sound moves five times faster than in the air? The Be the Sea project was interested in using this acoustic ecology to map the soundscapes that exist where the land meets the sea. The Be the Sea project invited participants to attune […]

This week we started getting the beach ready for the return of the little terns at Seaton Carew. It was great to be working with Stephanie from Hartlepool Big Town Tidy Up and a lovely group of volunteers. We managed to collect 8 bags of rubbish from the beach – just in time for the […]

We’re super proud of our Intertidal Survey Volunteers who did their first official Shoresearch surveys! They identified over 30 different rockpool species, and all the data collected will be submitted to the The Wildlife Trusts national citizen science project and ERIC North East If you’d like to help us at our next survey just email […]

Our arty beach clean at Crimdon was great fun during the Easter holiday. We collected litter from the beach and saved the more unusual items to use back at the Dunes cafe with artist Maria. The litter was used to create shapes with paint and decorate t-shirts like in the photo here. What can you […]

It was a bee-autiful sunny day at Crimdon for our Royal (Queen Bee) Ramble! We found Queens from six different bumblebee species, plus seven other pollinators, including the bee fly. One participant said “Thanks Rachel and Dee for leading a very informative and well led talk and walk this morning for all ages and abilities…we […]

Crossing disciplines and biomes, the Be the Sea project is interested in soundscapes and acoustic ecology to map where the land meets the sea. What are the sounds of the coastline that first come to your mind? Can you imagine how you’d map them? Commissioned by Sea AIR, part of SeaScapes Co/Lab the creative engagement […]

In collaboration with East Durham Artists Network (edan), Durham University and the University of Sunderland, the film ‘Blast Beach: Digging Deeper’ which premiered on Saturday 26th March is now on YouTube – Blast Beach, Digging Deeper – YouTube It is a multi-media based project based around and informed by interviews with communities who are living […]

Shared from Marine Biology Life. EXCITING NEWS! Seaham Town Council have become the 8th council to make an Ocean Recovery Declaration using the #Motion4theOcean. It is so exciting to see councils stepping up to play their part in ocean recovery. The wave is building! EmilyCunningham is a co-author of the model Motion for the Ocean […]

In collaboration with East Durham Artists Network (edan), Durham University and the University of Sunderland, the film ‘Blast Beach: Digging Deeper’ premieres this Saturday 26th March. Blast Beach: Digging Deeper is documentary inspired and informed by the people who live, work and play around Blast Beach Seaham. You can see the film in full at […]

Meet Alison, our newly recruited Volunteer Beach Clean Leader. Alison joins the rest of our Leaders in running her own beach clean events and she’s starting with the people she works with! Good luck Alison If you are interested in joining the Beach Clean Leader team please contact info@seascapes.co.uk

We have welcomed our first group from LEAD Education sailing with RYA North East Region from South Shields Sailing Club. The students began in the classroom with theory, then enjoyed blue skies for their practical session. We believe that one of the best ways to get people to look after our coast is for them […]

Do you live in, or have connections with Clavering in Hartlepool? We are looking for people from Clavering to get involved with a community archaeology project. Tees Archaeology, in collaboration with SeaScapes, are digging deeper into the significant role that the North-East coast played in strategic UK sea defences during war time. In response to […]

DID YOU KNOW – the amount of line UK anglers send to landfill or incineration every year would reach to the moon and back 1.5 times! As part of our Beach Care project we have been working with Seaham Sea Angling Club and Seaham Harbour Marina to install pipe bins next to the pier for […]

There’s something very hopeful about planting a tree!! So far, along with local residents and the Durham Coast & Countryside – National Trust Rangers, over 250 native and fruit trees have been planted within the meadows at White Lea Farm in Easington Colliery. The trees will contribute towards the variety of wildlife habitats at the […]

SeaScapes and SeaScapes Co/Lab is excited to offer a funded artists residency that collectively explores the relationship between our marine heritage and queer culture. SeaScapes Co/Lab: Queer Shores and Seas will support a socially engaged artist based in the North East, who self identifies as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual + to explore […]

A healthy ocean means a healthy planet, yet decades of exploitation and pollution has meant that the ocean we all love is in crisis. With the ocean absorbing more than 90% of excess heat and 20% of annual CO2 emissions generated by human activity, it is vital that we recognise its role as part of […]

There are hundreds of shipwrecks lying on the seabed between the Tyne and Tees, with many wrecks and their stories still unknown. Over the next two years, the Beneath the Waves project will be bringing our hidden underwater maritime heritage to life by working with local divers and dive clubs to create 3D models of […]

With January being national ‘Dog Walking Month’ and many of us making New Year resolutions to lead a more active outdoor lifestyle, the beach is often seen as a perfect place to take your four legged friend. But did you know that much of our coastline has special status as a protected area because of […]

21 bags of rubbish containing hundreds of plastic bottles, wet wipes, ghost fishing gear. 10 tyres. 3 lobster pots. a Buoy. …and two very tired volunteers helping Louise and Vicky from the SeaScapes team. This is just from one hour on Red Acre Beach this afternoon. Whilst nature may have caused havoc it is our […]