Rockpools and seaweed

Some of the extraordinary Kelp Root at Meadfoot Beach, Torquay

Sat 1 March 25. I’ve mentioned before how much I love Meadfoot Beach in Torquay, I pretty much grew up on this beach, spending many a sunny day lying on a towel on the pebbles, swimming to a small raft which used to be anchored out at sea, eating ice cream, playing in a little dingy with my brother which doubled one time as a shelter from the rain while we waited for mum to collect us. I enjoy detail and nature and this beach continues to be an inspiration to me in my textile designs. The rocks at Meadfoot make for excellent rockpools, as much today as when I was a child and I still enjoy gazing in to them and admiring seaweed, limpets, sea snails, pebbles, and fossil formations. Thanks to the Marine Conservation Trust website for helping me to identify the different species.

A collection of limpets, sea snails and Bladderwrack and Red seaweed on the rocks at the beach

Tree-like Bladderwrack seaweed clinging on to a rock waiting for the tide to come in again

Beautiful pink coral weed and calcified crust lining this rock pool

Wire weed found in one of the rock pools

Fossils of worms on the rocks at Meadfoot Beach

We couldn't walk past bits of plastic waste without picking them up, many strands of old fishing line or net tangled up in nature. It reminded me a little of unravelling the Christmas tree lights, it requires a certain amount of patience, but it was worth it to free this Kelp root and let it be out at sea again without the manmade contribution. Meadfoot beach cafe at the far end of the beach provides refreshments in all weathers, and make a great vegan hot chocolate.

Plastic tangled up in Sea Kelp at Meadfoot Beach

Vegan hot chocolate at Meadfoot Beach café