They are not weeds

Right that's Easter dealt with.

Recently some commercial projects have involved us working on interpretation at a more local level, giving us the opportunity to get to know the locations first hand. As opposed to relying on clients from futher-a-field supplying us with photos of the sites to get a feel for the work.

And so saturday saw us exploring the Beachlands of Hayling, with a view to producing some panels that celebtrate the series of habitats that have been designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Beachlands is a peculiar mix of fairground, beach huts, golf courses and dog walkers, not on the face of it ideal  surroundings for wildlife to thrive in. But a mosaic of habitats, combined with nature's resilience makes this strip of coast home to one of the finest maritime plant communities in Hampshire. The key habitats are the sand dunes and shingle beach. To most it is a good place to sunbathe in the summer and a bleak area to walk the dog during the winter months.

However, to some birds migrating in the spring it is first landfall after leaving the French coast and one of the highlights of our walk was seeing seven wheatears fresh in from the continent, flashing their 'white arses' as they flitted among the dunes. Also among the dunes Green-winged Orchids were starting to flower, we counted a hundred or so, hinting at a spectacle to come, when thousands of these tiny purple orchids will be on display. Looking closely at the shingle, we saw signs of one of the specialist plants that make their living in this harsh environment. Growing up through the stones were the small purple leaves of sea kale, soon this cabbage-like plant will dominate in their hundreds, bedecking the beach in white flowers. They are not weeds! It is their home, we are the visitors.

A few hardy birds make the dunes and shingle beach their home as well. The cascading songs of skylark and meadow pipit, rang out as we wandered, but a pair of ringed plovers sat secretly on the pebbles proved too tempting for brushes to resist. Especially the handsome male, who sported the blackest of black eye-mask and bib. Soon four cryptically marked eggs will be layed, discreetly added to the number of stones on the beach and nesting will have begun for them.