A city might not spring to mind for the UK’s first national marine park. But marine habitats and more than 1000 wild species living in Plymouth Sound will benefit from conservation action on the edge of one of the largest cities in the southwest. Conserving wildlife on the doorstep of a large population of people is a vital aspect of how conservation is developing. There is inequity of access to outdoor spaces in the UK. National parks are effectively inaccessible to 50% of the UK’s poorest people because they live in urban areas and lack transport to reach them. Plans for Plymouth’s National Marine Park include invitations for people to enjoy and explore the space via swimming and snorkelling trails, underwater webcams, and improving public access to the sea.