We got the pet swimming in the sea – and it climbs (8)

I believe the answer is:

sweetpea

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'it climbs' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'we got the pet swimming in the sea' is the wordplay.
'got' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'swimming' is an anagram indicator.
'in the' is an insertion indicator.
'we'+'pet'='wepet'
'wepet' anagrammed gives 'weetp'.
'weetp' inserted inside 'sea' is 'SWEETPEA'.

'and' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sweetpea that I've seen before include "climbing plant" , "climber" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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