The Horizons Project
What is the Horizons Project?
Thanks to an £11.6 million Heritage Horizon Award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Plymouth is leading the way in transforming how we connect with our marine environment. It’s a once in a generation opportunity to create a deeper relationship between the city and the sea, one that inspires pride, belonging and care. The Horizons Project is our five-year transformation programme, designed to help everyone in Plymouth connect with, learn from and take positive action for the marine environment. Together, we’re:
- Restoring nature and heritage, from seagrass beds to historic fortifications
- Inspiring younger generations early with our ‘Sea in our School’ programme delivered by Ocean Conservation Trust
- Creating new ‘gateways’ to the park, such as reopening Mount Batten Tower and Mount Edgcumbe’s Garden Battery.
- Improving access along our waterfronts, including our current work around Mount Batten Centre and the opening of new spaces in Plymouth Active Leisure’s Tinside Lido
- Bringing the Digital Marine Park to Plymouth to help connect people to the Sound on land with ‘Sea for Yourself’ a collaboration with Plymouth Culture
Our Shared Vision
“Our National Marine Park will value the environment, heritage and economy of Plymouth Sound and its estuaries. It’s where people and planet come together to realise a new, sustainable relationship with the sea.”
By working together, we aim to:
Create long-term connections so that more people enjoy and protect Plymouth Sound in 2040 than ever before
Connect 10 million people with Plymouth Sound National Marine Park
Engage our whole city – more than 260,000 residents – on their journey to becoming Marine Citizens
Inspire 100,000 volunteer hours and support 200 local businesses
Create new jobs and enterprises, adding over £20 million of value to our city’s economy
A Movement Led by Plymouth
Plymouth Sound National Marine Park is already inspiring a wave of Marine Parks across the UK. This is more than a local project, it’s a national movement for change, led by a city proud of its past and ambitious about its future.
Together, we’re shaping a new story for Britain’s ocean city: one where everyone can enjoy, care for and take pride in the sea on their doorstep.