Blyth Valley and Southwold Wildlife Group: October report

Throughout the autumn and winter, the Blyth Valley and Southwold wildlife group, organise monthly meetings where they invite guest speakers to present on various topics of interest. Here, Penny Mansfield reports on their October meeting.

Suffolk Shingle – Tales of Treasure and Trash

Our October meeting of the Southwold and Blyth Valley Wildlife Trust group was a little different this month. Kate Osborne gave a lively presentation, “Tales of Treasure and Trash”, about life on the shingle on our Suffolk beaches She brought a wide variety of examples of the good and the bad to be found. On the positive side, we have some of the best vegetated shingle habitat in the UK: plants such as sea kale have adapted to have roots that are two metres long, but low-growing plants are more vulnerable, and to be avoided while walking. Treasures such as sea glass and hag stones can be found, but driftwood and seaweed are home to microscopic life that feeds other creatures and are best left alone.

We were encouraged to pick up litter wherever we see it. We had a quiz, a jar of varied “treasures” to identify, which aroused much discussion, and was fun. The “trash” of plastic debris in all its forms, and the continuing problem of sewage and chemical pollution was the negative side of this subject, and one that affects us all.

It was an engaging, participatory evening, and one that gave us a practical insight to the highs and lows of beachcombing.
Our next talk is on Thursday, November 9th at 7.30pm, at the Southwold Arts Centre, IP 18 6JP. Tony Brown will be talking about the Broads and its Wildlife. Admission £4, to include refreshment. Under 25s free. All are welcome.

Penny Mansfield. Contact us at swtblythvalley@gmail.com