13th February

Finally the temperatures are rising - today is a comfortable 6 degrees... Yet, to my surprise, much of the snow that fell 10 days ago remains on the shingle.

Sea defence work is finshed but it doesn't look so at the northern end. I understand that a shingle bank is hoped to form over time as a result of the geotextile bags.

The eroding cliffs reveal fascinating textures and falling sand is scattered on the snow.

There is some angling litter (telltale signs: discarded newpaper and frozen fish packaging) and an unusual number of large bottles. There is also a considerable amount of foreign language items: eg water from Malaysia, juice from Dubai as well as the usual Dutch, Belgian and French offenders - almost certainly jettisoned illegally off ships. The high tide spits plastic cups and sanitary towels onto the shoreline.

A cormorant (or is it a shag?) flaps its wings by the water's edge.

low tide: 08.26 hrs 0.3m, high tide: 14.38 hrs 2.6m

time of arrival: 14.01 hrs

weather: cloudy with some drizzle and occasional near-glimmers of weak sunshine, wind NW 15mph, temperature 6c
marine litter: large amount of plastic bottles and litter from foreign sources (presumed to be from shipping)

 

 

22nd January

Beautiful sunshine but freezing wind. We walk a long circuit across the marshes and through the woods before we get to the beach, arriving at the sluice south of Thorpeness.

There is a large amount of plastics on the shingle, as well as signs of recent anglers (coke cans, newspaper, plastic bags, battery packaging, fishing line, night lights). It doesn't take long to fill a couple of bags.

Coke is definitely winning the cola wars -  4 cans, 3 bottles, three caps - compared to one can of Pepsi (old) and one can of Sainsbury's. A fine example of global eco-marketing....

I like the sculptural corral of fencing... but the barriers to keep dogs off the beach seem over the top.

Finally we find a Smartie top and head to the Meare cafe for hot chocolate and cake.

high tide: 10.10 hrs 2.8m, low tide: 15.59 hrs 0.8m

time of arrival: 14.20 hrs

weather: sunny, strong winds W 32mph, temperature 10c
marine litter: lots of plastic pices and bottles; high number of cans - some recently left by anglers.

 

 

13th November

It is Sunday so we can squeeze through the barricades and, for once, walk the length of the beach. The bags continue to multiply and a portaloo stands like a tardis in their midst.

It's sunny and unseasonably warm (shorts weather for some) and there is a huge harvest of seaweed and plastic with balloons (McDonalds as usual), bottles, boots and turtles tangled in the the shiny fronds - and even a plant pot with its own harvest of sea plants. More paraffin wax too... and three Pot Noodles.

The anglers have been here also, leaving their packs of frozen calamari and pre-packed squid.

The Fa Ocean Dive Active shower gel - vitalising with plant extracts - looks tantalising nestling on the weed.

There are a lots of foreign language packs - including 4 tubs or lids of margarine and a large catering size pack of Ariel. The main languages that wash up are Dutch and French, perhaps not surprising given that Holland, Belgium and France are our nearest North Sea neighbours. Washing powder, dried parsley, shampoo and margarine certainly aren't beach visitors' normal picnic fare - so is this stuff washing down the big European rivers or being flung off ships??

On the way back I found a Smartie top (treasure to me) sitting amongst the weed.

high tide: 12.07 hrs 2.7m; low tide 17.51 hrs 0.7m

time of arrival: 12.48 hrs

weather: sunny, wind E 10mph, temperature 14c
marine litter: many plastic pieces, some quite large; 8 balloons mostly with strings, a lump of paraffin wax.