Harvesting sea washed turf.

A large area of the Kent Estuary shore between Arnside and Sandside is covered with high quality grassland. Each Autumn a licence is granted for the removal of some of this and for its sale as sea washed turf.

As this name implies each month when the highest tides roll in from Morecambe Bay the whole area is under sea water for several hours for three or four days. Many plants would object to this but it appears that this particular variety of grass likes it and is improved by the experience. It is certainly the case that the turf is in demand for places like bowling greens.

At other times of the year the area is grazed by sheep and lambs. The resulting lamb chops are delicious but whether they are really ready salted is debatable.