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Michael Taylor visited Greenway beach near Polzeath, during one of the four surveys carried out in the South West to find out more about the affects climate change is having on the shoreline.

The Shore Thing is an initiative of MarLIN, the Marine Life Information Network, working with schools and volunteer recorders to collect information on the marine life of rocky shores around Britain.

As well as the impact rising sea temperatures are having on our shore species, scientists have found that southern species were moving further north and east and northern species were retreating further north.

The aim of Shore Thing is to get A Level/Higher students and voluntary groups from all over the UK to monitor their local rocky shore recording the abundance of carefully selected 22 climate change indicators.

Wadebridge School student with a lobster

The data is then collected and uploaded to the website and verified before sending it to the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) where it is then available to the wider community. By taking part in this project students have the opportunity to take part in 'real' science.

The survey is divided into two parts; a transect survey and timed species search. More information about the project and how surveys are carried out can be found on the project website:

Since the project started in April 2006 over 60 surveys have been conducted at 35 sites around the UK. Over 700 students and volunteers have particpated.

Wadebridge School students collect data

Other surveys were carried out at Gorah Rocks, East Prawle with Kingsbridge Community Collage , Jennycliff, Plymouth and Lee Bay, near Ilfracombe.

The idea for the project originated from a four year study on the impacts of climate change, in particular rising sea temperatures, on a number of rocky shore species.

The results of this study can be found on the Marine Biological Association website: