UK Shore Blog

Guillemots return early at Bempton Cliffs

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:09:06 +0000

Visitors to the Bempton Cliffs RSPB site are enjoying the early return of guillemots. Hundreds of the distinctive black and white birds have reappeared at the site.

The birds, which would not normally be expected at the site for several weeks yet, are however only providing fleeting glimpses, however ahead of the usual arrival in spring and summer. Up to 60,000 adult guillemots and their chicks can be seen along the 400ft chalk cliffs in spring and summer.

Bempton Cliffs Site manager Ian Kendall said: “It almost feels as though they are playing a game with us, but the truth is they probably leave the cliffs as the weather changes.”

“When it gets round to the breeding season proper they’ll stay exactly where they are, looking after their chicks whatever the weather.”

“It’s unclear what has brought about this early return. It may be that there is plenty of food in the wild wintry seas off Bempton or the constantly changing weather could be the reason.”

“Whatever it is that drives them to do this, we think these occasional early visits in large numbers somehow help bond the colony together and it certainly makes a for a fantastic wildlife spectacle.”

It was announced last year that the Bempton Cliffs site will be upgraded to become the national seabird centre for England, and more than one million pounds will be spent by the RSPB over the coming five years to further develop the site which currently attracts up to 45,000 visitors a year.

Source: Yorkshire Post

RSPB Bempton Cliffs website

Orfordness lighthouse closure proposed

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 09:55:22 +0000

The Orfordness lighthouse has been a landmark on the Suffolk coast for over 210 years, but has now been recommended for closure following the latest five-year review by Trinity House, who manage all lighthouses around the coastlines of England, Wales and the Channel Islands.

It plans to discontinue all navigational aids at Orfordness, and instead proposes increasing the range of the Southwold lighthouse to compensate. Trinity House asserts that as navigational technology continues to advance the reliance on the traditional system of lighthouses around the coast has diminished.

Keith Seaman, the current Orfordness lighthouse keeper, said it would be a sad loss.

“Obviously there will be some objection from people used to looking at the Orford skyline and seeing what has become an iconic tower standing there. It would be a tremendous blow if it disappeared.

“For me it would be a sad loss having worked there since 1994. It has become a part of me and I have enjoyed showing visitors round. If the lighthouse goes then I will no longer be required.

“It’s inevitable that at some stage the tower will cease to exist because of severe erosion but that may now be hastened.”

The recommended closure of the lighthouse has been made somewhat inevitable by the local coastal erosion, and the lighthouse may be lost to the sea anyway within five years, unless it was moved inland or coastal defences in the immediate area were strengthened.

Objection to the proposed closure is already being sounded by members of the The Alde and Ore Association, and the Public consultation pediod will continue until January 29th 2010. Responses should be sent to Navigation Directorate, Trinity House, Tower Hill, London, EC3N 4DH (email navigation.directorate@thls.org).

Source: EADT24.

Marine and Coastal Access Bill enters final stages

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:35:02 +0000

The long awaited Marine and Coastal Access Bill is set to become law. It will establish a set of marine conservation zones around the coast of England and Wales. The Bill also includes plans to create a footpath stretching along the entire coastline of England and Wales, and the creation of a government body to be named the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

The Bill is currently in its final stages in the Lords before receiving Royal Assent and becoming law.

Critics of the Bill say the measures, which will ban fishing in certain coastal areas, will not offer enough protection to endangered marine species.

The Marine Management Organisation will be tasked with marine-related issues, such as plans for offshore wind farms, and would become a centre of marine expertise.

Source: BBC News website

Isle of Wight Walking Weekend

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:26:16 +0000

After the success of last year’s Autumn Walking Weekend, the Isle of Wight Council will be repeating the event this year between 23rd and 26th October 2009. There will be over 50 walks to choose from, with a wide range of walks for all ages and abilities. The walks are led by experienced volunteers. Many of the walks are free and range from easy, level walking routes, to challenging sloping walks more suited to keen walkers and those with a good basic level of fitness.

Walks include “the Darwin Celebration” which will take place around Sandown Bay, and an “Alfred Lord Tennyson” walk exploring the landscapes that inspired the Victorian poet laureate during his time on the Island.

There are over 500 miles of well-maintained and signposted footpaths around the Isle of Wight Heritage Coastline.

See http://www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk/ for more details.

Queen Mary 2 reaches Greenock

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:22:06 +0000

The cruise liner Queen Mary 2 is currently docked in Greenock (Glasgow) as part of a tour of the British coast to celebrate the 151,400 tonne ship’s fifth birthday.

A viewing area has been set up at the Ocean Terminal to allow onlookers the chance to see the enormous $800 million cruise ship. A firework display will mark the departure of the ship. The Queen Mary 2, operated by Cunard, is 147 feet longer than the Eiffel Tower (984 ft) at 1,132 feet and is currently the World’s largest ocean liner (until the 225,000 tonne Oasis of the Seas becomes operational in November 2009).

Source: UK Press Association

Great Yarmouth Out There Festival 2009

admin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:16:54 +0000

Great Yarmouth’s “Out There” Festival is taking place this weekend (Saturday 19th – Sunday 20th September). Top European acts including French acrobats Les 3 Points De Suspension, Dinosaur stilt walkers from the Netherlands and Brazilian style floats will be performing at various places around the town.

UK talent including comedy duo Ronny Ronco and Kenny K-Tell aka “Cheesy Rider”, and Kings Lynn based parkour group KLFR will also be taking part.

The “Out There 2009″ festival now in it’s second year is part of a larger plan for Great Yarmouth as the town aims to build it’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading destinations for street entertainment. The festival is backed by EU funding totaling €600,000.

BBC Panorama programme to highlight dirty beaches

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:27:16 +0000

Focusing on the less beautiful aspects of Britain’s coastline, BBC’s Panorama will be showing a programme entitled ‘Britain’s Dirty Beaches’ on Monday night (7th September). The programme will investigate the outflow pipes that discharge sewage and other items into our coastal areas, and will show the results of it’s own specially commissioned scientific tests.

UK viewers will be able to see the programme on BBC One, Monday 7th September at 20:30 or information about the programme is available on the BBC website.

Update 16th September 2009: The Environment Agency has responded to the Panorama program with their own short film which can be viewed below. You can also view their response to our blog post in the Comments section of this post.

Slowcoast charity cycle ride around entire UK coastline

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:07:05 +0000

Nick Hand set off on 21st June from Bristol on a charity bike ride around the UK coast and today will reach Southend after 75 days in the saddle. To sponsor Nick, and donate to the Parkinson’s Disease Society please visit his sponsor page.

The project website can be found at slowcoast.co.uk, and there is a regularly updated blog with additional detail on his trip.

The website has route maps, and interesting soundslide features which highlight artisans visited on his long journey. Well worth a look.

The UK’s best rock pools

admin — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:23:15 +0000

The Pursuits section of the FT has published a list of the best rock pools to be found on the UK shoreline. Based on Daniel Start’s book ‘Wild Swimming Coast’ it lists the best five natural rock pools for swimming and diving along the coast.

1. Blue Pool Corner (Gower, Wales)

A 12ft deep ‘tub’ with a perfect cylindrical shape. The pool stands at the east end of Blue Pool Bay, near to the sands of Rhossili. There are also the remains of a chapel on nearby Burry Holms island to explore, as well as a set of sea arches, and ancient caves that contain gold doubloons from a Portuguese wreck.

2. Dancing Ledge (Langton Matravers, Dorset)

On the spectacular stretch of coastline between Swanage and Lulworth Cove. The remains of the marble quarries provide access to a labyrinth of sea caves, inlets and plunge pools. Dancing Ledge forms a large flat seashore rock platform. The famous tidal pool was blown out with dynamite in 1906.

3. Treyarnon rock pool (North Cornwall)

Treyarnon cove is a family beach popular with surfers. To the right, on the rocks just below the youth hostel, there is a rock pool that is 30ft long and about 8ft deep in the centre.

4. Harkess rock pools (Bamburgh, Northumberland)

10 minutes to the north of the beach below the Bamburgh Castle castle ruins, you will find Harkess Rocks, where there is a string of natural plunge pools. ‘Gun Pool’ and ‘Spark Plug Pool’ are narrow channels, ‘Half Moon’ is crescent-shaped, and ‘Egg Pool’, is large, deep and oval.

5. Fingal’s Cave, Staffa (Fionnphort, Mull Scotland)

Boat trips to Staffa island and Fingal’s Cave are available from Fionnphort, Isle of Mull. The acoustics in this natural sound chamber inspired Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture. Hexagonal basalt columns rise up from the sea within the cave.

See the FT article and the Wild Swimming Coast website for full details and safety information.

Images:
Blue Pool Corner © Copyright Nigel Davies and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Dancing Ledge © Copyright mark green and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Treyarnon rock pools. © Jamsta. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License

Folkestone Leas cliff lift closed by council

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:13:40 +0000

A Victorian water-powered lift on the Kent coast has been closed after the local Shepway council deemed it too expensive to run.

The Grade II-listed Leas Lift on cliffs at Folkestone carried passengers for the last time on 30th June when the council’s lease ran out.

The lift was built in 1885 making it the oldest water-balanced cliff lift in England. However Shepway Council said it was running at a loss with costs of £90,000 a year and earnings of only £30,000 and the cost of maintenance was also going up. According to the council, the number of people using the lift had dropped considerably since the Sunday market on the Folkestone seafront ended.

A spokesman for the owner, Radnor Estates, said it wanted to reopen the lift.

“It is the estate’s wish to see the lift continue operating.”

“Had the decision to end the lease not been taken [that] would have placed onerous and significant financial obligations on the council,” it said in a statement.”

“We will continue to offer all the support we can to individuals or groups who feel they can contribute to the lift’s future.”

There was drama on the final day of running as two people got stuck in the Leas Lift carriage. A rescuer abseiled down the cliff to assist the pair, who were later rescued in front of onlookers. The lift service was resumed for the remainder of its final day.

Sources:
BBC News Kent
This is Kent