Rockpooling Destination: Revisit Hemsby, March 2016

The intertidal sediments experience periods of erosion and deposition which in turn influence the sediments and organisms found or washed up on the shore.



In March the strandlines separate in to an upper, comprised of bryozoa (predominantly Flustra foliacea) and a lower, comprised of red seaweeds (predominantly combweed, Plocamium sp).

The sediments of the shore in March, comprise coarser elements than during the summer.

March 2016

The shore in Summer, 2014



Hemsby, January 2015

Winter storms have washed up quantities of hornwrack (Flustra foliacea) onto the sandy shore at Hemsby, Norfolk.

Many different things can be found among the washed up hornwrack, including the remains of crabs, sponges, razor shells and slipper limpets.

The sandy shore with successive strandlines dominated by the remains of the bryozoan, hornwrack (Flustra foliacea). Habitat classification: LS.LSa.St (Strandline) and LS.LSa (Littoral sand).

Hornwrack (Flustra foliacea)

The remains of Hornwrack (Flustra foliacea), crabs and seaweeds comprise the strandline.

Hemsby, Norfolk September 2012

Rock pooling destination: Hemsby, Norfolk, September  2012

The stretch of beach at Hemsby alternates between swathes of sand and shingle.  It has a gently sloping profile. When the tide is in, currents run across the beach, forming shingle berms.

The shore is barren of life due to the mobile nature of the sediments and its inability to hold water within the interstitial spaces of the pebbles whilst the tide is out.

Insects such as flies and beetles occur amongst the upper shore and organisms are found washed up amongst the strandline.

On this occasion strong weather had washed up many empty razor shells, shore crabs and rhodophyta marine algae, amongst which could be found small gastropods.

The habitats present come under two classifications: LS.LSa (Littoral Sand) and LS.LCS.sh.BarSh (Barren littoral shingle).  

Below are photographs of some of the organisms encountered whilst rock pooling in this habitat.

Habitat Classification: LS.LSa (Littoral Sand).

When the tide is in, currents run across the beach, forming shingle berms. Habitat Classification: LS.LCS.sh.BarSh (Barren littoral shingle). 

Razor shells washed up on the strand-line.



Shore crab (Carcinus maenas) washed up on the shore.

Razor shells washed up on the strand-line.

Red seaweeds (Rhodophyta) washed up from cobbles off shore.