Rock Pooling

Exploring the coastal wildlife in Littlehampton's tidal pools

Rock pooling is one of the simple pleasures of the Littlehampton coast, a free activity that connects children and adults alike with the marine life that inhabits the tidal zone. The rock pools along the Littlehampton and Climping shoreline are exposed at low tide, particularly during spring tides when the sea retreats furthest, revealing a miniature world of crabs, anemones, prawns, small fish and seaweed-draped rocks.

The best rock pooling areas around Littlehampton are found towards the western end of the coast, where the clay and chalk ledges at Climping Beach and the groyne bases along West Beach create pools that trap seawater as the tide recedes. The pools vary in size from shallow puddles to deeper basins, each supporting its own community of plants and animals adapted to the harsh cycle of submersion and exposure that defines the intertidal zone.

Shore crabs are the most commonly encountered creatures, their green-brown shells and sideways scuttling providing excitement for young explorers. The crabs shelter under rocks and in crevices, and lifting rocks carefully (and replacing them afterwards) is the traditional method of finding them. Hermit crabs, occupying borrowed shells and carrying their homes on their backs, are another favourite find. Blennies, gobies and other small fish dart through the pools, difficult to catch but entertaining to watch.

Sea anemones cling to the rocks, their tentacles extended when submerged and retracted into jelly-like blobs when exposed. Beadlet anemones, typically dark red or green, are the most common species, and touching one gently will cause it to close around the finger, a harmless but memorable sensation for a child's first encounter with a living sea creature. Snakelocks anemones, with their long green tentacles, are found in deeper pools and should not be touched, as their sting can irritate sensitive skin.

Seaweed provides the backdrop to the rock pool ecosystem, with different species occupying different zones of the shore. Bladderwrack, with its paired air sacs, dominates the mid-shore, while the delicate green sea lettuce grows in shallow pools higher up. Red seaweeds, including dulse and carrageen, favour the lower shore where the pools are deeper and more stable. The seaweed itself supports a community of tiny creatures, including amphipods, isopods and sea slaters, which are visible on close inspection.

The best time for rock pooling is during the two hours either side of low tide, when the maximum area of shore is exposed and the pools are at their fullest. Spring tides, which occur around the new and full moon, produce the lowest tides and expose pools that are normally inaccessible. A bucket, a small net and a guidebook are the essential equipment, along with sensible footwear that can handle wet, slippery rocks. Wellington boots or old trainers with grip are ideal; bare feet and flip-flops are not.

The Marine Conservation Society encourages responsible rock pooling, which means handling creatures gently, returning them to the pool where they were found, replacing overturned rocks and not taking any living creatures home. The shore environment is fragile, and each pool is a complete ecosystem that can be damaged by careless visitors. Teaching children to observe, handle gently and replace is part of the value of rock pooling as an educational activity.