AN EVENT to celebrate the sea in Dawlish is taking place later this month.

Turning The Tide is a free, one day festival being held on the Lawn to champion and coast and environment. 

Organised by Turn The Tide Teignbridge CIC and Dawlish Town Council, the festival is aimed at celebrating the sea and highlighting the current ‘climate emergency’. 

The family-friendly event, on Bank Holiday Monday, May 29, will feature a host of activities and entertainment including poets, bands, information stalls, demonstrations, talks, workshops and children’s activities, speakers, creative workshops and wellbeing practitioners. 

A spokesman for the organisers said: ‘Our ocean and climate are in a state of emergency. 

‘An ocean in crisis is not only bad news for our climate, but also for our fishing industry, aquaculture industry, tourism industry and for the health, wellbeing, and prosperity of our coastal communities.

‘Up to 70 per cent of the air we breathe is produced by marine plants and the sea is able to store around 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere. 

‘The world’s oceans are the biggest regulator of the planet’s climate, supporting all life on earth. 

‘Around 40 per cent of CO2 we emit is absorbed by ocean waters. 

‘Our seas provide a home for 2.2million species of marine life.

‘Coastal towns like Dawlish depend on a healthy, clean sea and foreshore. 

‘The health and welfare of our environment affects the health and welfare of our community.’

The event runs from 10am to 5.30pm.