A NEW online Coastal Story Map has been launched to help people explore the wonders of the Somerset coast in a new way.

Created by Somerset Wildlife Trust, the Coastal Story Map allows people to take a virtual photographic tour, discovering information, amenities and points of interest along Somerset’s beautiful shores, as well as featuring the data collected from the first intertidal survey of Somerset’s whole coastline.

The survey has covered an area the size of Taunton, and has revealed the different habitats and wildlife found on the coast - perfect for scientific projects, informing coastal planning decisions, or just deciding where to go rockpooling.

The ambitious survey took over two years to complete and covered the Somerset’s coast from Glenthorne to Brean Down.

Beccy MacDonald, of Somerset Wildlife Trust, said: “More than 200 species have been recorded.

“Most memorably Edmundsella pedata, a purple sea slug usually found in deeper water, was discovered in the under-boulder communities of Bossington.”

Visit somersetwildlife.org/Living_seas for more.