The days have only been lengthening for 9 days, but already we're looking forward to Spring and Summer. For the Spring programme of meetings, click on the link in "Talks Series and Outside Events" (R, top)
A glassy stare from a marine animal…..

Coastwise concluded its Autumn programme with the Annual General Meeting, and a follow-up to Sue Austin's fascinating talk about the "rediscovery" of the Blaschka lampworked-glass marine models; models so lifelike and accurate that they were intended for academic and educational
Built in Barnstaple, Part II………
Local historian Peter Ferguson returned to Coastwise to conclude his fascinating account of shipbuilding in Barnstaple. Peter based his talk on a variety of old prints and photos depicting the shipyards along the Strand, at Pilton upstream of the current
Coastwise finds a way…..
……round the world of maps. Local outdoor enthusiast and mapmaker Mike Harrison showed members how he produces his maps – yes, actually creates content overlaid with specialist software on a pre-copyright Ordnance Survey base. His Croyde-based business (www.croydecycle.co.uk) produces an
Differences Down Under……….

Coastwise member Jay Nicholson spends some of the winter months each year in Australia to make sure his grandchildren know who he and his wife are, as his daughter and her husband decided oddly some years ago they preferred sun
Algae have always been with us, or nearly……..
An old friend of Coastwise, John Hudson, took members through the life of algae from their appearance over 3Bn years ago to their many uses curently, including as an important foodstuff. They cover a huge range of forms, from microscopically
Understanding Geology….well, almost…

A chance meeting at an "arts meets geology" event led to Andrew Green giving Coastwise members a masterclass in North Devon's geological history. Andrew works at IGI Ltd, a great example of how the internet allows a small company to
Coastwise Members Share Their Interests…….

Every Spring and Winter Programme, one of the sessions is devoted to members who talk about one of their interests. The Nov 27th session included poetry, photography, geology, the problem of plastics in the se, and marine animal strandings –
OUR MUSCLE AMONGST THE MUSSELS

Anyone can take mussels from the Taw Torridge Estuary mussel beds though the area is an SSSI designated for birds which feed there. When recently the mussels attracted fishers outside the area the Devon & Severn Inshore Fisheries & Conservation
Coastwise learns about Marine Life…..

Marine Life's Rick Morris gave Coastwise members a great introduction to the conservation organisation's work, not that it was needed for the one or two members who were already supporters and observers. For most members, though, it came as a