The member's session is always excellent, and this year we had three very entertaining and informative topics. Sue Austin introduced us to the Blaschkas, father and son, who, in the 1870s, made models of marine life in glass for educational
It helps to have members with good contacts, and this is how (Emeritus) Professor Harry Bryden of Southampton University came to be talking to Coastwise members about one important aspect of oceanography – the reason for the Gulf Stream, and
Kate Weld's objective is to get her Ecology students into paid employment when they graduate from their foundation degree in Animal Conservation. They do a lot of practical field work in their first year, prior to a second year focussing
Peter Ferguson, an architect by training, gave very interested Coastwise members the benefit of the extensive knowledge of his real love, the history of ships and shipbuilding. Although Peter now lives in Somerset, he spent many years in Barnstaple and
The very recent announcement of DEFRA's Tranche 2 MCZs including the Foreland Point to Westward Ho! coastal strip was very welcome, and Dr Rob Enever of Natural England gave Coastwise members some insight into NE's rigorous approach to assessing backing
Practical marine conservation takes a stride forward with today’s announcement from DEFRA for the second round of MCZ designations includes two sites in North Devon – Bideford to Foreland Point, a coastal strip covering North Devon’s best known beaches, from
What is one of the most diverse and widespread phylums of animals on the planet ? If you said "Molluscs", many people might not realise that they've been around for over 500m years, and include limpets, octopuses, sea slugs and
Mike Hunter answered the Marine Biological Association's call to "Be a Conservationist" and do some beach cleans round Falmouth. Fine, but by kayak ? Yes ! So Mike set about raising money, but a little fracas with a park
Coastwise member Rob Durrant is a North Devon native. Although he had to go away for education and work, he returned, and has made a deep study of marine creatures in the area his new mission in life. Whether on
The grim reality of clinging to life on the shore for animals and algae was expertly described to Coastwise members by marine biologist John Hudson. The steepness, tidal movement, wave impingement and temperature are some of the factors which affect
