PUPILS from schools around the area descended on Wembury beach for the start of this year’s Marine Wildlife Champions project.

The project, which is led by the education team at Devon Wildlife Trust and funded by the National Marine Aquarium, kicked off with a beach conference at the popular National Trust beauty spot.

During the day, the children learned all about marine life and the threats it is currently facing. Experts from the Shark Trust, National Trust, National Marine Aquarium and Devon Wildlife Trust delivered exciting activities based around the challenges of plastic pollution, over fishing, terrestrial pollution and marine protected areas.

Wembury Marine Centre, which is run by Devon Wildlife Trust also led guided rockpool safaris during the day.

Marine Wildlife Champions aims to work with schoolchildren to increase knowledge and understanding of the marine environment and the challenges it faces. Students are encouraged to champion the cause of marine wildlife, thereby taking the lead in effecting behavioural change in their communities, to work as a team, and present their findings to a wide audience.

Among the schools that attended the beach conference were Modbury Primary, Manor Primary, Yealmpton Primary and Ugborough Primary.

The champions now have until June to complete projects at school focusing on one of the issues they learned about at the beach conference, and trying to create positive change for the benefit of marine life. In June, they will come together again at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth to present their projects.