Seals at Blakeney

We have arranged a trip to the north Norfolk coast to see the seals at Blakeney Point. Blakeney Point is a long shingle spit providing shelter to a large tidal area. Silt and sand deposits have built up as large areas of salt marsh providing a wide range of coastal and inter-tidal habitat, not only for seals but also for a wide variety of birds.

The coach will leave Ipswich early in the morning and go via the A 12, Blythburgh and Beccles, picking up en route. We will stop first in Wells-next-the-Sea where the local WI is providing refreshments and there may be time for a look around this pretty seaside town. Then it is back in the coach for a short drive to Morston Quay, where we will board a boat to take us to see the seals.

The colony is made up of Common & Grey Seals and numbers around 500, which are usually basking on the sandbanks at the far end of Blakeney Point. We should be able to sail very close to the seals on the beach, which will provide a great opportunity for photographs and also

ample time for questions.

After seeing the seals, we will land on Blakeney Point for about an hour. The National Trust took over the Point in 1912 and it is now an international breeding ground for many migrant birds during both summer and winter. The most popular summer visitors are the terns - mainly Common, Sandwich and Little Terns and, quite often, also Arctic Terns. Many of them begin to arrive from West Africa during mid-April and breed into the season.

During your visit you may like to take a stroll up to the Old Lifeboat House, which is now used as a base for the Wardens during the summer and also as an Information Centre or you may like to head for one of the hides which are located at prime sites - from these you can take a closer look at the breeding birds. Alternatively, just take it easy and relax near one of the many secluded sand dunes.

The firm we are using is licensed by the Maritime Coastguard Agency and the boat carries full life-saving equipment.

This trip takes place on Thursday 6 May 2010. The cost is £25, which includes morning refreshments and the boat trip. You will need to bring a packed lunch. Please use the form on the back page to book your place.

Leisure Activities Committee

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Suffolk East WI News February 2010