Periwinkle Shelter

As we move into poppy season, I did a search and found images on Facebook posted yesterday of a poppy field at The Trundle near Chichester.  It was the only excuse I needed to head down to the West Sussex coast for the day.  I chose a new site today, the RSPB Medmerry Nature Reserve - I normally go to it's neighbouring site RSBP Pagham Harbour but with with high tide most of the day some of the main walks are restricted.  There was also the tantalising attraction of a new sculpture on the beach; the Periwinkle Shelter.

I had a lovely walk round this wild wetland, reclaimed for nature from flood plains.  There was plenty of birdsong, including skylarks, but they mainly stayed in hiding - as did most of the water birds - I probably need to work out which the best time of day and tide gives the best opportunity for sightings!  I did manage to catch a stonechat in full voice (extra).

There were views of the sculpture itself as I walked towards the sea.  This has caused controversy, with some commentators liking it to a "giant poo emoji".  The woven willow structure actually recalls Littorina shells (periwinkles) found in the remains of an ancient willow fish basket found during archaeological excavations when RSPB Medmerry was created as a one of the largest coastal managed realignment and flood protection schemes of its time.  

I rather like the structure set overlooking the beach. My view is looking back across the reserve with the downs in the distance and set within the soft grasses swaying in the wind. The white speck are shells from the beach which people have added since November 2024 when it was unveiled - I added a few of my own!

Oh, and as for the poppies - they were not there. When I rechecked I saw the images had obviously been reposted from a previous year :-(