Families are free to explore and look for the variety of life on the shoreline and each child will also be given a personal work booklet to fill in and take away with them to enjoy and colour in at home. 

Rebecca Belleni, the creator of the initiative at the Coastal Office, said: “The seas off the Sussex Coast are home to an amazing array of weird and wonderful species and habitats. The Marine Warrior project is an interactive natural activity for visitors and residents to not only enjoy our beach at surface level but to dive a little deeper into our rock pools which act as mini aquariums whilst the tide is out, allowing us a closer look at some of our native marine life.

“The benefits for all ages come in bucket-fulls with every Marine Warrior child (and adult) experiencing an ever changing environment and discovering something different or new with every rock pool.” 

“The backpack will also supply adults with an informative rocky shore guide that has additional details on marine species found on our coast. This way parents can get involved and help identify what their children discover and in turn the learning and appreciation of what there is to find is capturing the interest of all family members.”

Councillor Kevin Jenkins, Worthing's Executive Member for Regeneration, added: “Worthing Borough Council is continually looking for new ways to get people involved and interested in our wonderful environment and this is another brilliant initiative that highlights that commitment.

“These fun backpacks will get kids out and about in the fresh air, finding out all about the world around them in a fun and sensory adventure.”

Once the trail has been completed, Worthing Coastal Office staff will be able to assist with identification through its ‘Rockpool Reef’ in-house native tank. Each child will also be presented with a little certificate on completion to award them as a ‘Marine Warrior’, which is designed to inspire them to learn more about our marine life. 

The backpacks are free, but ID is required and there is a £30 cash deposit needed to hire out each kit which is available from the Coastal Office on Worthing seafront between the pier and lido. They are available on a first-come-first-served basis and currently cannot be pre-booked.