A new QR code on the Wales Coast Path at Porthdinllaen and Morfa Nefyn reveals the story of the large seagrass meadow in the shallow water. Thousands of people visit this area every year to enjoy its natural beauty, but few are probably aware of the seagrass meadow – estimated
A new QR code on the Wales Coast Path at Porthdinllaen and Morfa Nefyn reveals the story of the large seagrass meadow in the shallow water. Thousands of people visit this area every year to enjoy its natural beauty, but few are probably aware of the seagrass meadow – estimated to cover the same area as 46 football pitches – and its environmental importance. Now HistoryPoints, Project Seagrass and the National Trust have teamed up to provide on-the-spot information about the meadow on smartphones. Anyone can scan the QR code, displayed at Morfa Nefyn and at Porthdinllaen, to view a page on the HistoryPoints website with concise information, photos and a video of seagrass seeds being collected for restoration of meadows elsewhere around the coast. Seagrass meadows are havens of biodiversity and trap carbon from the atmosphere. Since 2012, HistoryPoints has provided QR codes for display at other 600 places along the 870-mile Wales Coast Path, shedding light on interesting aspects of local human history or natural history. The Porthdinllaen seagrass QR code is the first one dedicated to raising awareness of some of the underwater wildlife which lies close to the path but goes unnoticed by walkers. Leanne Cullen-Unsworth CEO of Project Seagrass, who have been studying the meadows in North Wales for more than a decade, said: “the coast path history points are a fantastic resource for us to share more widely the beauty and importance of this vital habitat. The UK has lost up to 90% of its seagrass over the past century, and so it’s essential that we celebrate and enhance what we have left. We need people to know that seagrass is there and to understand its importance so that more people care about it, this is a great way to help achieve that.” Eve Nicholson of Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru/Natural Resource Wales, which oversees the path, said: “Walking the Wales Coast Path is a great way to connect with nature along the Welsh coastline at your own pace, offering lots of opportunity to relax and experience the unique Welsh coastline at their own pace. Whilst the sea is your constant companion on the path, what lies beneath the waves is just as intriguing as what’s surrounding you. Many people enjoy the views from the path at Morfa Nefyn and Porthdinllaen and we hope that people will discover what underwater natural history there is beneath them during their walks.” Find out more about the Seagrass Ocean Rescue: North Wales programme and explore the new HistoryPoints webpage.
