World Oceans Day
London
England’s vibrant capital is a tapestry of rivers and waterways, which need love and attention just as much as the oceans – just ask Lizzie Carr, founder of Plastic Patrol! To celebrate in the city, head to the Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill, where you’ll find an exciting line-up of events taking place on Saturday. You can take part in a Puppet Walkaround, where little ones can meet and greet some friendly fish in ‘The Lost and Tangled Forests’, and settle down for an ocean adventure of storytelling, singing and crafts at the education centre. Don’t miss the #BeatPlasticPollution pop-up art exhibition and seize the opportunity to meet some of the museum’s curators. The experts behind the Turtles in Trouble, Lego Lost at Sea and Spotlight on Sharks exhibits will all be talking about their work in the afternoon.
For more of a party atmosphere, head to Carnaby Street for Soho Music Month, which will be kicking off with a line-up of incredible performances and a Project 0 pop-up exhibition. Experience artworks by Elizabeth Hoff and Alma Laura alongside powerful photography by Tim Atkins examining the impact of microplastics.
Bristol
The Bristol Festival of Nature will be going on all weekend, so it’s definitely not one to miss. Head to the Talks Tent to listen to an array of influential speakers, from discussions on how best to tackle microplastics to a sneak peek behind the scenes of the natural science collections of the Bristol Museum. Spread across Queen, Millennium and Anchor Squares, there will be locally sourced food, interactive activities, performances and exhibitions from the likes of Extinction Rebellion, Surfers Against Sewage and the National Trust
Southampton
There is loads going on in this historical port city. Head to the National Oceanography Centre for its free open day, where visitors can enjoy an array of exhibits, talks and hands-on science. You can also take a look around the workshop to see some of the equipment being prepped for scientific expeditions.
If you still haven’t had your ocean fill, head to Royal Victoria Country Park to take part in a Marine Citizen Science Day with The Wildlife Trusts. Inspiring talks, activities and discussions will be happening throughout the day, while organisations such as the Blue Marine Foundation, Just One Ocean and Planet Aware will be there on the day to help you find ways of making small changes that make a big difference.