Erosion

For several years Julia has been visiting the beach and cliffs near the village of Covehithe, which is the fasted eroding stretch of coastline in the British Isles. 

 

The recession of this coastline is a natural process, but many fear that man made climate change will increase coastal erosion by causing the sea level to rise and more powerful storms.

 

 

A series of paintings inspired by the fast retreating coastline of North Suffolk.

The coastline near Covehithe is imbued with a sense of romantic eeriness. Swirling waves at high tide are quickly eating their way through the fragile cliffs  of sand, shale and clay.

.

Trees, dead from the salt spray, come down with the cliffs.  The stumps often remain on the beach for several years being sculpted into fantastical forms, before they are swept away by a high tide.

 

 

 

The sea and the sun bleach and smooth down the contorted limbs of the trees.

 

 

Barbed wire from wartime coastal defences was buried in the local fields, only to be extruded back onto the beach several decades later.

The roof of the great parish church of Covehithe collapsed centuries ago, but the tower remains an intact local landmark. Each year it appears to edge closer and closer to it’s final demise.

 

The overall scene is reminiscent  of the wartime work of Paul Nash.

 

 

 

A loan tree stands erect in the swirling surf like a sentinel looking out to sea, perhaps symbolising one small beacon of hope?

One is reminded of the transience of our existence as humans in terms of the geological time-scale of the earth, and the effects of climate change and sea-level rises may have on our coastline.

Phone: 01953 498736

E-mail: wildplant@i12.com

To contact us: