Easter is the most important day in the Christian calendar, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and celebrated by tens of millions of people worldwide.

While the core celebration revolves around religious observances like church services, many non-Christians also enjoy the holiday’s secular traditions, making it a widely popular event.

One such event being the Easter egg hunt, bringing friends and family together in search of delicious chocolate eggs.  Always enjoyed by those with a sweet tooth but often regretted at the end when too many have been consumed!!!!

How amazing would it be to go on a different kind of Easter egg hunt, one that doesn’t involve chocolate (or maybe as a treat at the end) but the magical search for a mermaid’s purse.

A mermaid’s purse is a wonderfully whimsical name for something quite natural and fascinating, for it’s the protective egg case of certain species of sharks, rays and skates.  What could be more thrilling as a family to spend time at the local beach, combing the sands, pebbles and rocks for these little treasures.  If the tide is out and rock pools are exposed, you may even have the rare chance to see a beautiful, tiny embryo wriggling and pulsing within its protective egg, amazing!!

Mermaid’s purses are easy to spot and when found for the first time, pretty mesmerising.  They resemble small, rectangular capsules, tough and leathery to touch with curly tendrils or horn like projections at the corners.  Hence the charming nickname, as if mermaids had dropped their handbags among the seaweed.

Inside the purse, a baby fish develops safely, nourished until it’s ready to hatch.  Once empty, these egg cases can be found tangled in kelp or nestled in sand, sparking curiosity and a touch of oceanic mystery.

Visiting the seaside is always a fun and memorable day out but please remember a few simple rules to keep you and wildlife safe.  Observe signs, tide times and lifeguard information, children should always be accompanied by an adult, place living things back exactly where you found them and always handle with care.  Take all rubbish home with you or dispose in the nearest bin.