Plymouth students blend gaming and conservation with new nature-themed Minecraft project

Young people in Plymouth have helped bring Plymouth Sound National Marine Park to life in the video game Minecraft as part of a summer education project led by a local university.

The project, called Minecraft in the Blue, was developed by researchers from Plymouth Marjon University and the University of Salford, working with Plymouth City Council Youth Service, and funded by Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.

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The aim was to help 13 and 14-year-olds learn more about the marine environment around Plymouth, while also building confidence, creativity and teamwork skills.

During the summer programme, young people explored real-life outdoor spaces around the waterfront. 

Activities included rock pooling, photography, sound recording and making notes about what they observed. 

These experiences were then used to recreate Plymouth landmarks such as Smeaton’s Tower and the Tinside Lido as well as marine habitats inside a custom-built Minecraft world.

Dr Tracy Hayes, from Plymouth Marjon University, said the project focused on listening to young people and letting them shape the final result.

“For us, this project is about more than Minecraft, it’s about hearing young people and supporting their ideas,” she said. “Their voices, creativity and curiosity are right at the heart of this new Minecraft world.”

The Minecraft environment also includes digital wildlife based on species found in Plymouth Sound. 

Young people researched animals and habitats before adding them to the game, including dolphins, seals, basking sharks, herring gulls, cormorants, limpets and seagrass. 

The project also helped challenge common misconceptions, such as the idea that there is just one type of “seagull”.

One section of the game focuses on pollution, with players encountering a turtle trapped in plastic waste and must free it and dispose of the litter correctly, reinforcing messages about caring for the marine environment.

Dr Adam Hart, from the University of Salford, said the team hopes the project will continue to develop.

“We’d love to see it made available nationally so others can immerse themselves in the marine environment through Minecraft,” he said.

Plymouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, Councillor Tom Briars-Delve, attended a demonstration of the Minecraft world at Plymouth Marjon University.

“As Britain’s Ocean City, it’s vital that residents and visitors engage with Plymouth Sound National Marine Park,” he said. “Using technology like Minecraft helps connect people locally and globally with Plymouth.”

Elaine Hayes, chief executive of Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, said the project showed how digital tools can help young people connect with the sea.

“Minecraft is played by over 200 million people worldwide, all of whom can and should be able to experience their ocean,” she said.