Grants

Marine Conservation

Discovering the Cove

£15,000 awarded

Project Dates: 01.04.25 to 31.12.25

Discovering the Cove is an exciting project designed to connect local schools and their communities with nearby wild spaces – raising awareness of the importance of local coastal habitats and wildlife species.

The Cove Discovery Project has become a key element of local conservation efforts in Brixham, Devon, specifically in promoting the preservation of Churston Cove and its marine habitats and native wildlife species.

The project focusses on introducing children to local coastal wildlife and habitats through a series of presentations, workshops, and field trips to Churston Cove, and sharing underwater footage of the wonders that lie hidden just a few metres from their local coast.

Project Objectives:

  • Expand Program Delivery: The DEF grant will allow the project team to increase the frequency and scope of their conservation and community engagement programs, reaching a broader audience and deepening the project’s impact.
  • Strengthen Partnerships: This grant will allow for the development of stronger relationships with local schools, community groups, and environmental agencies, leading to more collaborative projects and shared resources.
  • Enhance Revenue Streams: By dedicating more time to the strategic development of the harbourside shop and other revenue-generating activities, the project can move towards financial independence, reducing reliance on future grant funding.
  • Develop Long-Term Sustainability: Core funding for 2025 will provide the necessary support for the team to develop further income streams to become self-sustaining, and ensure its continued impact and growth.

 

A huge thank you to Rockfish for generously funding The Cove Project again.

Images courtesy of The Cove Project.

IMPACT SUMMARY OCTOBER 2025: 

Project Activities:

Educational and Community Events

  • School and Community Talks: The project delivered targeted educational presentations, including a talk on marine litter at Stoke Gabriel School on October 7th and a presentation to the staff of the Bull on November 25th.
  • Field Trips and Volunteering: Hands-on activities included leading the Brixham Boys Brigade “big blue bag” beach field trip on September 22nd and hosting a Love Brand Corporate Volunteer day on September 16th.
  • Event Planning: The team was also involved in planning the Breakwater Classic Swim Event on August 31st.

 

Media, Exhibitions, and Research

  • Film and Exhibitions: In a collaborative project with the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, they created a short film designed to promote both organ donation and seagrass awareness.
  • Research Publications: The project published numerous research papers and discussion documents, making them publicly available on their website.
  • Social Media Outreach: To maintain ongoing public engagement, the project curated a balanced mix of science, social, and retail content on Facebook and Instagram, successfully growing their audience to nearly 4,000 followers.

 

Sustainability and Partnership Building

  • Retail Expansion: To reduce reliance on grant funding and develop long-term sustainability, the project focused on the strategic development of their harbourside shop.
  • By expanding their range of organic clothing, the shop exceeded turnover expectations and generated enough revenue to co-fund future projects, prompting plans to move to larger premises in spring 2026.
  • Strengthening Partnerships: The project actively fostered relationships with local schools, community groups, and environmental agencies, including the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark. This active networking has already resulted in visible growth, with requests for presentations and activities secured for 2026 and 2027.

 

Project Impact:

The Cove Discovery Project celebrates the coexistence of both wildlife and people in and around Brixham, and through it’s engagement activities raises awareness of Brixham’s marine habitats and species.

Through carrying out environmental education and engagement activities within local schools, universities, community groups and with the public, the project increases local people’s access to environmental education.

The Cove Discovery have a beautiful new shop on Brixham high street, which helps generate funds for the conservation and research, providing an important alternative income stream for local conservation work.