On Friday Coastwise members attended a microscope workshop, using Ilfracombe Dive Club's excellent clubhouse in Ropery Row.6 It's very convenient for specimen collection on Cheyne Beach, and the covered snooker table makes an excellent surface for up to 12 microscopes.
Simon Dart of the Environment Agency made time out of a busy schedule to give Coastwise members a really interesting overview of flood management in North Devon. A necessary preamble to looking at individual areas in the region is understanding
Poking around on beaches has been the obsession (her word !) of Gudrun Limbrick, who runs the Beach Stuff blog and website (www.beachstuff.uk). Despite the Scandinavian name, she was brought up in Birmingham by local parents, who overcame the disadvantage
On 9 November Imogen Napper gave us an outstanding talk entitled Fantastic Plastic? about plastic pollution in the sea, particularly microplastics. . As a PhD student in Professor Richard Thompsons’ Plymouth University research team she has played a key part
Coastal and Intertidal Zone Archaeology Network is a bit of a mouthful, but Alex Bellisario explained what the project is all about to Coastwise members. The aim is to record disappearing coastal archaeology, and the need was recognised after the
Coastwise members put effort into identifying the flora and fauna that they find on the seashore, but most are not so sure about the classification heirarchy, or taxonomy, into which they fit. Dr Pip Jollands set out to put this
The effect on marine life of too much sound ? Well, maybe not, but Coastwise members heard John Harwood, a semi-retired Professor of Biology at St Andrew’s University, give an overview of his research into the topic. John has worked
Josh Day, National Trust local ranger, gave Coastwise members an insight into his very thoughtful approach to managing the NT land between Croyde and Ilfracombe, which covers everything from Culm Grassland to Victorian walkways and bothies. Josh does plenty of
……were explored by Dr Keith Hiscock, as he gave Coastwise members a preview of his new book "Exploring Britain's Hidden World – A Natural History of Seabed Habitats" This draws on Keith's extensive knowledge of the marine world, and starts
The science of Phycology, or the study of seaweeds, was effectively started by Victorian enthusiasts in the mid-1800s, who assembled collections of pressed seaweeds, and compiled artistic presentations (R, top). Everyone's seen (and smelled) the seaweed on a beach, Coastwise
