Aqua Explorer CIC rounded up the week with our community British Shore Rock Pool Experience at Family Hub Shadsworth today – and, just like Tuesday’s event at Family Hub Little Harwood, the turnout was fantastic!

More than 160 people came along, with families of all ages joining us to discover these incredible aquatic environments and the fascinating creatures that call them home.

For many of the children and adults who attended, this was their first ever encounter with marine life and the amazing micro habitats of a British rock pool. There was plenty of curiosity, excitement and of course, lots of questions!

Our Marine Rangers were kept busy sharing fascinating facts and answering questions about what makes a crab so well adapted to survive in the ever-changing conditions of a rock pool, why anemones turn into little blobs when they are out of the water, and the rather disgusting way that starfish eat their dinner.

And the Marine Rangers were certainly put to the test, with some fantastic and thought-provoking questions from both children and adults.

The Aqua Explorer British Shore Rock Pool Experience is all about getting hands on and connecting people with marine life and today was a perfect example of this. From toddlers and children to parents and grandparents, everyone had the opportunity to get up close, touch and even hold some of these amazing creatures.

There were plenty of smiles, a few nervous moments, lots of fascination and, most importantly, fun was had by all!

A huge thank you once again to Nineveh Charitable Trust for providing the funding that made this community event possible, and to all the wonderful staff at Family Hub Shadsworth. They made everyone feel incredibly welcome and helped ensure the day ran smoothly.

Most importantly, a massive thank you to all the wonderful families who joined us. Thank you for getting involved, listening to our Marine Rangers, asking fantastic questions and taking the opportunity to touch and hold creatures that many of you had never encountered before.

It was wonderful to see so many people discovering the fascinating world beneath the waves – right here in their own community.

We hope you enjoyed your rock pool adventure as much as we did!