
What is the National Marine Park?
Plymouth Sound is the UK’s first national Marine Park. It was created to reconnect a city with one of the most remarkable stretches of sea in the country, teaming with wildlife and history. The park invites people to enjoy it, care for it, and help it thrive for future generations.
It’s a story of pride, place and getting your feet wet, and it’s already making waves!
Meet our Anchors
Anchor Sites are key places around Plymouth Sound where you can step into the National Marine Park and experience it for yourself. From waterfront hubs to green spaces by the sea, each one offers a different way to connect, whether that is getting on the water, exploring local heritage or simply spending time outdoors. We work closely with these sites to create opportunities for people to get involved, alongside their own activities and events, making the Marine Park visible, welcoming and part of everyday life in Plymouth.
Highlights
Zanna’s Field Trip to the Marine Park
To promote the new Netflix film, ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’, we welcomed fitness, wellbeing and nature influencer Zanna van Dijk to Plymouth Sound. Putting a spotlight on remarkable sights in nature.
Things to do
Meet the Blue Sparks
Blue Sparks supports community led activity across Plymouth Sound, helping more people connect with the National Marine Park in ways that feel welcoming and accessible. It brings together local groups, organisations and individuals to create and run activities that reflect the city and its coastal identity. From creative sessions to hands on experiences, Blue Sparks is about building confidence, trying something new and making the sea part of everyday life.
Latest News
Be part of something extraordinary!
Become a ‘Marine Citizen’
Be a part of hands-on habitat restoration and beach cleans
Help with events and educational activities
We provide all the training and support you need to get started.
Project Highlights
Discover our Heritage
The UK’s first National Marine Park is about forging a new relationship between the city and the sea. Encouraging people to become ‘Marine Citizens’, developing closer connections with the ocean, learning to care about our coastal environment and change the way we behave in order to protect it.
A big thank you
Thanks to National Lottery players
The Plymouth Sound National Marine Park has been made possible thanks to money raised by National Lottery players through the Heritage Horizons Awards. We are one of five projects to be awarded the funding in 2021. Through this project, we aim to reconnect everyone with Plymouth’s rich natural and historic heritage through innovative activity, digital and capital programmes.










