Nash Point, April 2009

Much of the coast of this part of South Wales is formed of cliffs cut into Lower Jurassic 'Blue Lias' limestones & mudstones (about 195 million years old). These are fronted by wave-cut platforms 300 to 500 metres wide. Near Nash Point the cliffs vary from 30 to 60 m in height and are near-vertical and - as the picture shows - unstable. This is an exposed, high energy environment, with rapid rates of erosion - as much as a metre every ten years in some places. Fossils are not uncommon, but often fragmented in the mudstones and hard to find in the limestone beds except on polished surfaces of large pieces.

The formation of the foreshore shows the effects of rock layering, and is scoured bare by wind and tides. There are few visible animals except limpets and barnacles, and there is a very limited range of seaweeds. The 'pebble beds' at the high water marks in the occasional coves are formed of rugby-ball sized pieces of limestone.

Paul Franklin planned the trip, and succeeded in organising pleasant weather and interesting conditions for photography. Thank you Paul!