Savage Shores

This lassie is a Grey Seal. She lives in Newquay harbour, Cornwall. Her Latin name means, ‘hooked-nosed sea pig’.

A resident of Skomer Island Marine Nature Reserve, Pembrokeshire.

Planning, research and photography for the book continues … more information to follow, watch this space!

Seaing the Sea by John Hegley

knee deep in the ocean
something in the ever-steady knee-cap lapping
motion
of the ocean
moves me to emotion
something infinitely playful
something totally and finally benign
in the briny
makes these four eyes of mine wet with weep
as if there wasn’t enough salt water already)

The photos in this entry were taken late one evening in summer 2007, around the spot where we were camped on the north Cornish coast. The environment surrounding us was formed by eons of geological processes, eroded and sculpted by wave, tide and climate, and colonised and adapted by all manner of plants and living creatures into a complex ecosystem. Much later, humans settled and made their own impact on the landscape through millennia of social and economic activity.

All of these processes continue, and all are interconnected. We’ve set out to understand and then explain this dynamic and complex environment. Hopefully our book can achieve this, but it is undoubtedly as much of a learning process for us, as we hope it will be for our readers.

This beach in the north-west of Scotland’s Isle of Skye is famous for being entirely composed from coral … except that it isn’t. The ‘coral’ is mainly shell fragments and bleached remnants of red algae.

Thrift thrives on the coastal fringes where there is plenty of salt in the air and ground. This hardy plant is also known as ’sea pink’, for obvious reasons.

These photos were taken in the Isles of Scilly; this wind-swept Atlantic archipelago is located 25 miles offshore of England’s mainland. Thrift can be found growing wild all around the hundred isles and rocks of Scilly.

Sellafield nuclear processing centre is sited on the Irish Sea coast in west Cumbria. It was created (under the previous name of ‘Windscale’) in the late 1940’s as part of Britain’s atomic bomb project, and also generated electricity until decommissioning began in the late 1990’s, work which will continue until at least 2037.

Most of Britain’s nuclear power stations are based on the coast in places of relative solitude and natural beauty. Debate continues about the impact that rising sea levels will have upon their safety and longevity. However, additional coastal nuclear power stations are currently being planned.

This is the combined estuary of the Rivers Esk, Irt and Mite in west Cumbria. I chanced upon this place whilst out walking this summer, being stuck in the area by strong winds during a sea kayak trip. Behind me were the high sand dunes of the Eskmeals Dunes Nature Reserve, and behind that was Eskmeals Range, a weapons testing facility. The spot where I was standing covers over with saltwater at Spring Tides, these being the highest and lowest reaching tides that occur just after full moons and new moons.

Heather has spent this afternoon collating data on salt marshes. They’re more interesting than you might think.

Storage solutions St Kilda Style.

Cleits;

Cool.

Extremely well ventilated.

Constructed from locally available materials.

Perfect for storing eggs, feathers, crops, peat and turf.

Alternative uses: a perfect home for nesting birds and primitive sheep should your storage needs change; perhaps if you decided to move away to the mainland.

Photos from my trip to St Kilda in August.

Heather.

The stacks at Duncansby Head, north-east Scotland.

This didn’t happen quickly …

 savage (sav·age sávvij)

‘Savage Shores: Britain’s Coastal Environment’ is the title of a book currently being researched and written by Heather and Mark Rainsley for Pesda Press. The book aims to explain the climate, geology, landforms, natural history and human history of the coastal environment to walkers, sea kayakers and others enjoying this wonderful part of Britain’s natural heritage. 

The two authors are experienced writers and photographers with a particular love for the coast of Britain. We intend to use this blog to keep folk updated as to our progress with the book over the next 18 months.

Right now we’re planning the work ahead.

Please watch this space for more updates! In the meantime, enjoy this picture of the Gadcliff in Dorset …