A Coastal Partnership Inspired by Seals, Family and Shared Values!
Friday, 22 May 2026
At the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, we’re proud to work alongside people and organisations who share our love for the coast and marine life. Our partnership with Creek Lifestyle brings together a shared passion for seals, Cornwall, and coastal living, helping to support marine conservation while celebrating the wildlife and landscapes that inspire us both. As we continue our partnership into another year, Creek Lifestyle co-founder Richard reflects on his lifelong connection to the Sanctuary and the story behind the brand.
A Connection to Cornwall, the Coast and Gweek Seal Sanctuary
My earliest memories of Gweek Seal Sanctuary go all the way back to the late 1970s… a slightly scary thought when I realise just how long ago that now is! As a child, I used to visit Cornwall on family holidays, staying on working farms on the Lizard Peninsula, around St Austell, and up in North Cornwall near Bude.
Cornwall in the 1970s was a very different place from the one we know today, but those early experiences left a lasting mark on me. I developed a deep love for the county, its landscapes, and its people from a very young age, and I was fortunate enough to fulfil a long-held dream when I eventually moved to Fowey in the mid-1990s.
A Family Passion for the Sea
That connection to Cornwall and its marine life has continued through my family.
Both of my daughters have spent many wonderful days at Gweek over the years. Those experiences helped to spark a genuine love of the sea and marine conservation in them both. Today, they are trained divers and instructors, and proud members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue organisation.
My eldest daughter, Molly, has recently taken things a step further by volunteering at Gweek. It’s something that makes me incredibly proud. The Sanctuary now holds a special place in the lives of three generations of our family.
Life’s Unexpected Journey
Life has a way of taking interesting turns.
Sam and I were childhood sweethearts, first together as teenagers before going our separate ways. Many years later, we found our way back to each other as adults and have since built a life together by the coast and rivers of Cornwall, Essex, and Norfolk.
Together, we’re partners in both life and business, and we’re currently building Creek Lifestyle, a brand that continues to grow from very humble beginnings.
Creek Lifestyle and Coastal Inspiration
Creek Lifestyle began with a small shop we took over in Blakeney, North Norfolk. For those who don’t know it, this coastline is home to the largest breeding population of grey seals in the UK, alongside a healthy population of common seals. It’s an extraordinary place, and it became the inspiration behind our seal-themed designs.
The business has grown into a range of homewares, gifts and clothing inspired by the rhythm of nature and life by the coast. Our collection now includes tea towels, oven gloves, aprons, luxury blankets featuring kissing seals, bone china mugs, coasters, placemats, tote bags, socks, and more. We’re also developing a children’s range featuring our own character, Scoot the Seal.
And there’s more to come.
We care deeply about quality and craftsmanship, and wherever possible we’re committed to producing textiles here in the UK, from kitchen linens and accessories through to upcoming pieces like a Gansey jumper and work shirt.
