Beneath the Beach Chairs - The Secret Life of a Calanque

Overview

Ah, the Mediterranean! The sun, the sea, the beach… a real treat for us humans as spring approaches. But would you believe that beneath the beach towels lies a whole little world we’d never suspect? Discreet creatures that make the best of the human presence as best they can. At the end of winter, whilst snow and cold still rage across the rest of Europe, biodiversity comes to life. With the arrival of warmer weather, another creature also makes its grand return: Homo sapiens. Clumsy, disrespectful, wasteful: our resident Sapiens wants to make the most of his holiday, but all around him the world is changing: the climate is becoming drier, the waters are warming, some species are disappearing, whilst others are taking their place. Guided by scientists, this walk explores a complex and fragile ecosystem – the natural world on our doorstep – which is at the mercy of the vagaries of the climate and the major upheavals of our century.