Richard Davidson, Julie, Steve and Lisa, Matt, Ann, Linda, John, Mike, Di and son, Delphine, Sarah, Sophie, Marianne and Delphine's dog Lilly arrived at Donna Nook beach after an early start from Lincoln to make their journeys to the coast.
The HM Coastguard were very pleased to see so many of us in attendance as we swelled their numbers of volunteers and promptly issued safety instructions and latex gloves to the group as well as survey clipboards to record our findings on the beach.
The group split into two groups and scoured the beach for "rich pickings" and it was surprising what we found, anything from a cotton bud to a fishing basket, not to mention the odd trainer and flare particles from the RAF testing site nearby! Thanks to those of you who completed the survey records.
It was a little overcast/misty to start with but this didn't stop our volunteers covering a long stretch of beach making our way back to the car park at 12 noonish for a well earned cup of tea from the group's brew kit (thanks to Rebecca for the biscuits. These were gratefully received by the group!)
Lilly certainly enjoyed her run up and down the beach alongside the group for encouragement all the way there and back, splashing in puddles on the return journey.
Then it was round to Saltfleetby, after a quick group photograph of all the
volunteers who'd taken part during the morning's task and survey clipboards and
litter pickings had been collected in.
We enjoyed a beachside picnic just outside Saltfleetby where Lilly chased her tennis ball up and down the beach to the group's amusement before going around for a 2pm start at the other beach for litter picking and surveying. (Lilly posed really well for a photograph of her party on the beach where we had our picnic).
Similarly the group was well received by the organisers English Nature and their Representative told us that the numbers of volunteers had greatly increased this year due to our group joining them. (Richard gave them our contact details and task list so that we can be contacted for future litter pickings). Indeed after the task he said they had been able to cover a lot more of the beach than they would normally have done without our help!
Survey clipboards were issued and safety precaution lists to the group and although our numbers now were slightly reduced, some of the group going to Louth to sightsee and others going home, we enjoyed the afternoon sun which was quite hot as we covered the Saltfleetby beach.
Interesting items of nature were spotted in the form of huge, hairy orange/brown caterpillars (see Richard Davidson for their name) sea lavender and clematis as well as unusual fungi, not to mention the gentleman naturalist by his tent which Linda and John observed, though he did eventually put some clothes on and later was seen leaving the beach sheepishly with his tent under his arm, this time fully clothed!!!
We ended our search, including yet more trainers, a T-shirt and scraps of fishing net, to name but a few at 4pm again with a group volunteer photograph. It was thirsty work though so we had another cup of tea before we left for the day however we were invited to a local home of one of the other group of volunteers and some of our group went round for soup and a roll and/or plum cordial before leaving for Lincoln. The survey clipboards and litter pickings were collected in and the litter was weighed.
Look out for our next visit to the coast - Saltfleetby no less on Sunday 19 November 2006 when we will be digging a pond for the benefit of dragonflies, natterjack toads and visitors and installing picnic benches next to the Car Park. We'll also have the opportunity to visit the seals on the nearby beach of Donna Nook whilst we're in the area! Grid reference TF 467917, Contact Jude White on tel: 01522 879158 for details and car sharing.
Julie Radford, 18 September 2006