Robin Hood’s Bay

A fragile environment

All wildlife habitats are vulnerable to disturbance but the rocky shore at Robin Hood’s Bay is especially so, due to the huge numbers of people exploring this remarkable environment.

The area has been designated a ’Sensitive Marine Area’ so please bear this in mind and try to include into your studies an element which will encourage pupils to value this special environment. Please contact us if you would like help to do this.

Explain to pupils that the weird and wonderful plants and animals on the shore are living things and should not be harmed.

Always replace rocks exactly as you find them.

Marine plants and animals will not live for long away from the shore, study them in situ and do not remove any specimens.

The area is also a ’Site of Special Scientific Interest’ because of the remarkable geological formations and abundance of fossils.

• Look for fossils in loose beach material.
• Only collect a small number of fossils.
• Avoid hammering wherever possible.
• Keep well away from the base of cliffs as sudden rock falls are common.