Grainy Sand

Gorse Fox mentioned a while back about the loss of sand on the beach, and reported on the conclusion of the local council. He thought that it might be of interest to see the evidence.

This photo was taken this afternoon. The tide was on its way in, but here round the groynes it is clear to see the exposed rock where once there had been sand. Indeed, looking at the lower part of the groyne you can clearly see the level of recently exposed wood, which until this winter had been buried in the sand.

It may be coincidence, but a licence was granted for the extraction of 6M tonnes of gravel from the bay a couple of years back. Now the Gorse Fox just wonders what has happened to the hole left by the extraction, and whether it may now be filling with our sand; or whether this is a case of longshore drift, and the sand is being deposited further along the coast near Shoreham Habour.