The summer of 2024 is set to be one to remember for the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.
Having just last week received an £11.6m funding boost from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the UK’s first National Marine Park is now set to embark on a transformation programme that will help empower and engage the city in the marine environment.
With exciting events and innovative improvements set to take place across 2024, the new Marine Park will ensure a legacy that cements Plymouth’s relationship with the sea for generations to come.
“This really is the start of something massive for our city,” said Council Leader Tudor Evans OBE, who on Monday presented the marine park business case to his colleagues at Cabinet.
“The Plymouth Sound National Marine Park will revolutionise how we look after, utilise, and celebrate the sea that is so much part of our history, our heritage, and now our future.
“We’ve got so much to look forward to over the next few months alone and I can’t wait to see some of the improvements take shape.”
Following a two-year development stage where we spoke to over 10,000 people on what they wanted to see from the Park, several restoration projects that will improve access to nature and heritage and an inclusive activity plan, will commence in 2024.
Infrastructure improvements getting under way include:
Work to enhance the city’s iconic art-deco Lido, Tinside.
Scaffolding will go up before the start of the bathing season to support maintenance works and the refurbishment of the first floor and terrace which will create a multi-purpose event space for people to enjoy with panoramic views of the National Marine Park. Be reassured however the works will not interrupt your enjoyment of the pool over the summer.
The Mount Batten Peninsula
Works to install a new pontoon, a warm and welcoming refurbishment to the centre café, accessible changing rooms, and improved access to the 17th Century Tower will all begin this year.
Mount Edgcumbe’s Garden Battery
New designs to open up the Palmerston coastal defence fort will be finalised during 2024 before works commence in early 2025.
Meanwhile there will also be lots of exciting activities that people can join in with over the course of the year, including:
Swim Safe
A programme designed to build skills and confidence in, on and under the water, offering beginner swimming lessons through to snorkelling and diving, all located at Tinside Lido.
Rockpool Encounters
An expert led session introducing the incredible and unique habitat of marine life that lives beneath the waves of Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.
Community Coastal Cleans
An opportunity for communities to come together and spend time helping to clean and protect their natural environment and a great stepping stone try out our volunteering scheme.
Meet the Marine Park
The team will pop-up at new locations across the city offering opportunities to find out more about more about Plymouth Sound National Marine Park and how you can get involved.
Sea in your School
An exciting KS2 programme where lots of primary school children will get to virtually experience Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, a unique and memorable way of bringing education to life.
For those who want to engage further, an exciting citywide volunteer recruitment drive will roll out from early spring. This will offer people, with varying levels of commitment, opportunities to support Plymouth Sound National Marine Park either for a couple of hours, a day, or as an active regular.