Best-selling illustrator Millie Marotta has joined forces with the Marine Conservation Society to launch a national month-long colouring campaign for ‘national parks of the sea’. The nature inspired illustrator whose latest book, Curious Creatures, uncovers the world’s most visually fascinating underwater species, said that we were at risk of taking its diverse marine life for granted.

Millie says: “I live in the UK’s only coastal national park and feel incredibly lucky to have such beautiful beaches and amazing marine wildlife so close by. Here in the UK, we have a very rich and diverse array of wildlife both in and around our seas and we must not take that for granted. With so many threats these days to our marine environment and its inhabitants, I feel it’s important that we do whatever we can to protect these species and ensure the future health of our seas. The Marine Conservation Society’s campaign to create and manage more Marine Protected Areas in the UK means that more of our seas will have the protection needed for species to recover and thrive. This is a hugely important campaign and one that I wholeheartedly support.”

In addition to signing the Marine Conservation Society’s petition, Millie is urging the public to colour and share her illustration of the hermit crab, a favourite of rock-pool enthusiasts, and commonly found in the shores and depths of the British coast, with the hashtag #helpthehermit

Rachel Alcock, senior campaigner, Marine Conservation Society, said: “Many of us are often surprised by the incredible animals and plants found in the seas around the UK. Our seas are rich with unique species, shimmering shoals and reefs teeming with life. It is wonderful that Millie has signed our petition and we ask that everyone who enjoys colouring in her beautiful illustrations t joins us in asking decision makers across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to protect these treasures of the natural world are make sure they are properly looked after.”

How to be part of ‘colouring for conservation’

Sign - support the Marine Conservation Society’s petition for Marine Protected Areas: http://bit.ly/2c84sZv

Colour - colour Millie Marotta’s exclusive hermit crab illustration crab

Share - post on social media using #helpthehermit. Tag the Marine Conservation Society on Twitter @mcsuk, or on Instragram at @MCS_UK, or send to Millie on her Facebook page @milliemarotta for the chance to have your colouring shared with her 20,000+ fans! The wonderful hermit crab image is now live for people to download and share: http://www.pavilionbooks.com/helpthehermit/