Seashore Safaris

Author Judith Oakley’s new photographic book promotes and protects Britain’s sandy shores

Seaweed is used to make toothpaste; Sand Masons make a tube to live in by gluing grains of sand together; an octopus has three hearts and blue blood, and limpets start life as boys and then become girls – these are just a handful of the hundreds of facts featured in Seashore Safaris, a new book due out in May which celebrates the seashores of Britain.

Marine biologist and author of the book, Judith Oakley, captures her lifelong passion for Britain and Ireland’s coastline with a catalogue of spectacular images complete with detailed annotations. The images, snapped by Oakley herself, feature over 180 species – from sea urchins to starfish in 10 different habitats. The annotations serve as a hands-on guide of how to seek out rock pools, lift boulders and replace them without disturbing the environment.

Oakley outlines what to look for when engaging in seashore exploration and how to submit your findings to the relevant Marine associations. The book itself is ideal for amateur family groups or educational groups as it provides a clear guide to the context of the various species and the best way to enjoy the activity of a ‘seashore safari’.

Whether going solo or as part of an interest group, Oakley’s book is designed to guide you round the shoreline leaving no stone unturned and no species unchecked. Seashore Safaris also comes complete with a map of British shores - which details its zones, influences, threats and seashore code. The guide serves the dual purpose of encouraging people back to the shore and helping to conserve its delicate ecosystem.

Seashore Safaris is available to pre-order at for £9.99 from Graffeg Publishers: www.graffeg.com or alternatively go to: www.amazon.co.uk. Oakley regularly appears with Iolo Williams on BBC Wales’s Iolo’s Welsh Safari Rockpooling on Gower.