I mentioned when doing
M for Martello Towers in this round of ABC Wednesday that my walks destination was
Shingle Street and so here we are on the
sweeping shingle beach. The day was both showery and windy as can be seen
from the flag. The line of cottages that look out over on the beach are called
Shingle Street so the beach takes the same name. During World War Two the beach was mined against invasion and the inhabitants evacuated. Someone was rather careless with explosives and the pub blew up, never to be rebuilt. I hope its stock of beer was low. Today it is just a quiet hamlet with holiday cottages and a lifeguard station
which is at the end of the white cottages in the distance. My attention was on the sea kale
which grows here in profusion. The Victorians were also a lovers of sea kale but they dug it up and transplanted it into ornamental gardens and for a time it became rare on the coast. This beach is full of both mature and
young plants just starting out in life. Many parts of the plant
can be eaten but perhaps not on this beach for it is an area of special scientific interest for both its flora and fauna in the shingle and salt-marshes nearby.
It is thought that coastal erosion may mean that this
shingle spit may not be here in twenty years time.Who knows but until then it felt firm under my feet.
and I'm guessing the home owners are hoping the same.
t
