YOUNGSTERS were able to learn about marine life as well as get into some hands-on fun at a special session.

Children were treated to an informative presentation by Libby Scarfe of Seaside Explorers in Harwich Museum.

Keen to broaden the activities on offer and encourage community involvement, the museum hosted families for a hands-on seaside session.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Demonstration - Libby and the children take part in an exerciseDemonstration - Libby and the children take part in an exercise (Image: Libby Scarfe)

Libby said: “The families learned about the dramatic lives of some marine organisms such as anemones, barnacles, winkles and limpets.

“As well as sharing stories of what I’ve seen at the beach during several rock-pooling sessions, I brought in some special visitors so the children could have a close up experience with some of the marine life found on the Harwich coastline.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Different Species - Youngsters inspect marine life brought in by LibbyDifferent Species - Youngsters inspect marine life brought in by Libby (Image: Libby Scarfe)

“Three species of crab stole the show.”

The children were also shown some of the litter Libby has collected from her regular beach clean sessions and were amazed to find out how long some of the items take to disintegrate and what can happen to our marine life once litter enters our sea.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Life Process - Libby shows children a crab and how it operates in water.Life Process - Libby shows children a crab and how it operates in water. (Image: Libby Scarfe)

The session was aimed at children aged between four and 12 and they enjoyed playing with sand, creating intricate maps using puzzle pieces and taking part in exercises to demonstrate some of the processes of marine life.

Seaside Explorers is a beach school which gives youngsters the opportunity to appreciate aspects of beaches and the coast which have been undervalued.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Stuck In - Tots having fun with sand in a hands-on session.Stuck In - Tots having fun with sand in a hands-on session. (Image: Libby Scarfe)

Beach school sessions do not follow a fixed plan and are more fluid to follow children’s instinctive curiosity.

The schools meet youngsters' learning and developmental needs through the natural world and no two sessions are the same.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Tiny Creatures - Youngsters watch attentively as Libby displays marine lifeTiny Creatures - Youngsters watch attentively as Libby displays marine life (Image: Libby Scarfe)

Libby works closely with primary schools and other services such as Home Start and Harwich Haven Authority to raise awareness of our shores and marline life conservation.

If you are interested in finding out more visit Seaside Explorers on Facebook, Instagram or at seasideexplorers.co.uk.