Joy
East Wittering to Selsey
When my path along the stone stomping coast from Bracklesham is blocked by closed signs and fences, I’m disappointed. Once again, I must find another way to continue my walk. I follow the signs and head inland into the Medmerry Nature Reserve.
This a perfect walking day. The sun shines and the sea sparkles, a light wind cools my skin, huge clouds sail past like airships, there are very few other walkers.
Away from the shore, bright oxeye daisies reflect the light back to the sky, long grasses rustle in the wind and the lakes and ponds are attended by geese and other seabirds. They seem unconcerned by the walkers that pass by on the designated paths, we are the visitors here.
Skylarks are singing somewhere above, invisible but present in their music. Time and again, I stop to look around, tiny under the light of the magnificent sky, insignificant among the water and birds. A place to loose myself.
My heart is glad to be away from the seaside cottages and concrete, to see the coast reborn with a breach in the sea defences to let the water in, to create a new/old habitat of wetlands, tidal flats, reeds and water meadows. I can imagine a coast like this once stretching along my walk. To see, hear, smell the delight of being, here.
A churring, whirring noise draws me down to a reed lined pool where I can hear but not see the chorus. Blue dragonflies rest for a moment, neon signs advertising a favourite watering hole. Waiting, the singers appear, green frogs come to the surface, cool in the water, shouting their song. I don’t think I have ever heard so many frogs, so much noisy delight.
I sit for a while and watch a buzzard chased by a plover. Swallows scythe the air, small brown and grey butterflies rise from the grasses. I’m thankful for the diversion, to find this joy.
Medmerry has a great story to tell and you can find out more by following the link.
Alongside the abundance of wildlife, the fascinating thing about this area is that it is man-made, the result of one of Europe’s largest managed realignment projects. It was designed to protect the surrounding villages and towns from flooding. The project was completed in 2013 by the Environment Agency in partnership with RSPB funded by Associated British Ports. The creation of the Medmerry is now a topic studied as part of the A Level and GCSE Geography syllabus.
Skylark. Biro drawing by Sue Webber.
