Main content

Giant rockpools

There are some landscapes that simply take your breath away. Every year half a million people come to marvel at this geological jewel - the Giant's Causeway - it attracts people from all over the world. The 40,000 basalt columns that make up the causeway really are quite marvellous. But Chris Packham wants to show us another, nearby part of the natural world to explore, because this is a top spot to go rockpooling. Chris meets Billy Reid of the National Trust. Thousands of people come here without realising there's all this life to discover. Chris and Billy find a chiton which is more flexible than its limpet relatives. A sea anemone has stinging tentacles to catch prey, which Chris can feel as a stickiness on his fingers. The cushion star is a type of starfish with short arms. If you turn it upside down you can see its tube feet and mouth. Chris has a theory that the cushion star has a leading foot that it will use to right itself, but the animal disproves this by using two feet.

Release date:

Duration:

3 minutes