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Wembury is located to the east of Plymouth within
the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This stunning coastal
area was hidden from public view for many years when it was acquired by the Ministry
Of Defence in 1940. 听 | | On
the beach - top spot for rock pooling |
Today the
site has been decommissioned and, in spite of pressures for development, the National
Trust has been successful in acquiring it and returning it to recreational use.
One of the most distinctive features at Wembury is the Great Mewstone
island, a small, undisturbed rock which is important for cliff-nesting seabirds.
In
winter it is also a great place to watch or photograph a dawn or a sunset without
having to get up early or stay up late due to the short winter days. Rock
pooling  Wembury
is one of the best places in England for rock pooling.
In the summer there
are organised rock pool rambles but winter can be just as good.
With the
right clothes and equipment rock pooling can be an all year round activity, but
don't forget to check the tide times. There are creatures to be discovered
in every pool at Wembury, and the Common Prawn, Shore Crab and Cushion Stars are
amongst the marine life. The Common Prawn often moves offshore during the
winter, but it's often possible to find one onshore during winter at Wembury. Shore
crabs use their strong claws to crack open mussels, and are renowned for getting
into territorial fights. Cushion Stars start their lives as males - they
become female at about four-years-old.
If you turn a Cushion Star upside
down, you'll see that these creatures have an amazing ability to right themselves. This
marine creature also changes colour to match its surroundings like a chameleon.
Beach combing  Beach
combing is a good alternative if you don't fancy getting your hands and feet wet.
The
seas along this coast can get very rough which is good news for beach combers
as the waves throw up all sorts of treasures.
One of the unusual finds
to be made at Wembury is something called a Mermaid's Purse. These are
the little pouches which once contained baby Sharks or their near relation - the
Ray. Sharks and Ray breed all round the UK - but many of them are endangered,
having been depleted in numbers by intensive fishing. This is your chance
to help with conservation efforts and scientific research by recording your finds
and sending them to the Shark Trust and Marine Life Information Network. | 
