Introduction


When we started walking the coast of England we had no intention that this would become a major lifetime project. Having to make a last-minute arrangement for our summer holiday in 1987, we said "Let's go to the nearest piece of coast and see how far we can walk along it." It turned out well and we started adding further stretches of coast, initially once every two years, but soon annually, or even twice a year.

We had always enjoyed the coast - there is something refreshingly "edgy" about having the sea always at our side, and one of us was into marine molluscs. We also enjoyed long-distance walking and had long been involved in general natural history recording. This project enabled us to combine all three interests.

You soon discover when embarking on a project like this that you need a few rules, which evolve from the first experiences. Our main rule was that we should walk as close to the coast as possible, which meant beach-walking whenever we could (unlike the official coast paths that largely remain above shore, recognising that at high tides the beach may be inaccessible). The route should also be capable of being a continuous walk, so that when we came to an unfordable river we walked inland along its banks to the first place at which we could cross, whether a bridge or a ferry.

We only carried light packs, so that at the end of each day's walk we had the problem of getting back to our car where we started. Initially we walked back, but soon realised we would be walking the coast twice this way! We used public transport whenever this was available - buses or trains, sometimes adjusting our start and finish points to make this easier. Failing this - and it was often not possible - we would phone for a taxi (an increasingly costly option over the years). Having our car with us gave us more freedom as to where we could stay at night - and after a day walking and only light food we were usually ready for being spoiled by a good meal and a comfortable bed! Even so, we stayed on the coast itself whenever there was a decent option.

Each walk was made for enjoyment, it was not a route-march to see how quickly we could get it finished. We therefore took it gently at times when passing through pleasant scenery or where there were many plants or creatures to record.

In terms of biological recording, we systematically noted every bird, butterfly, creature or sea-shell that we came across, sometimes spending time searching for the shells. We could not record every plant in the same way - there are too many common ones - so we were more selective, noting all coastal plants and any others that were not run-of-the-mill.

In our daily posts, edited from our original diaries, we include a star-rating from no star to **** according to our subjective estimate as to how special that day was from the point of view of natural history. This score (and our daily records) will, however, have been affected by the weather - it is difficult to appreciate the environment fully, for instance, in torrential rain, and there are many more butterflies and other insects to be seen in warm sunshine!

A summary of all our natural history records on the walk can be found using this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1LLGD55lKRHYXd1SGU1QndrcUU/edit?usp=sharing





Friday, 31 January 2014

Lincolnshire: Gedney Grove End to Sutton Bridge 3/7/2008


 

River Nene, lighthouse in distance
 
Common cudweed
 
Comma
The rest of the embankment from Gedney Drove End to the mouth of the River Nene was as yesterday, but at least quiet of military action.  At the lighthouse at Guy’s Head we were on a road for a little while, then a surfaced track, and finally a grassy slope, all beside the river going south to Sutton Bridge.  The grass had just been mown and was easy walking.  A thin strip of saltmarsh with sea couch was at the top of a muddy rocky slope going down to the brown straightened river.  A stony path preceded an industrial area called Port Sutton Bridge where a lot of common cudweed had established itself.  The way gradually became a road, still close to the river, leading right into the village by the bridge itself, where there was a walkway beside the road.  On the other side a road came off immediately and ran north right by the river as far as another lighthouse on that side.  The roadside was rough tall herbage of little interest as usual, apart from pyramidal orchid.  We had a clear view of a kestrel on telegraph wires here.  The day was still and there were beautiful views up the river to the lighthouses with clear reflections of the riverside vegetation and birds such as black-headed gull and little egret, plus one heron standing in a muddy side-outflow, where there was also a dead seal carcase.  As we approached the lighthouse we were able to descend to the wide grassy and dry saltmarsh area beside the river for a more pleasant walk, although the road was a dead end and therefore not too busy.  At the end there is a picnic area and car park for the beginning of the Peter Scott Trail we shall attempt tomorrow.  Here on a buddleia was the first comma butterfly of this walk.  We walked back and had a drink and snack at the Wildfowler on the Wash pub at Gedney Drove End (formerly New Inn), which was obviously in serious competition with the Rising Sun in this little community, judging by the locals chatting in the bar.  Both were very much “local pubs” and not orientated to passing trade in this out-of-the-way corner.
Port Sutton Bridge
 
 
Pyramidal orchid


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