Tuesday 21 May 2013

Shingle Street

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
t
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.

An entry to ABC Wednesday - a journey through the alphabet


  

10 comments:

Richard Lawry said...

Looks like Shingle Street would be a lovely place to visit.
An Arkies Musings

Gemma Wiseman said...

Fascinating place! Love the view of the beach and boat in the first photo!

Unknown said...

i like the quietness in your photos...looks like a relaxing place. the pebbles are beautiful.

Shoepaholic

Leslie: said...

A faScinating poSt today...I'm always intrigued by the English landscape and seascapes.

Leslie
abcw team

photowannabe said...

What a lovely picturesque place, even in that tremendous wind.
I never knew there was such a thing as beach kale. Very interesting.

Roger Owen Green said...

The erosion is a real concern. Hoping for a good outcome.

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

MaR said...

Beautiful and peaceful place, lovely shots.

S is for...

Anonymous said...

Good place for "S"olitude

PhenoMenon, ABCW Team
http://capturedalive.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/shoot-out/

Gerald (SK14) said...

it seems a precarious place to live

Chubskulit Rose said...

Lovely shots!

Sorry, late visit for S.
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team