West Marsh May 2003 - Report from Richard Lowe, National Trust Warden
(See West Marsh Flooding story on the SH&DCRA pages)

It is interesting to see the near completion of the work on the West Marsh Project.  The new saltmarsh is already taking shape - several tides have flooded it - and work seems to have stopped on the beach just west of the clubhouse.   But be vigilant!  There is still a mess of iron debris, rusty barbed wire, sharp flint boulders and the like all protruding or just under the sand at the foot of the dunes.  A nightmare for parents with children.  The Environment Agency have been prodded from time to time again about the potential for this kind of thing happening

I (or my colleague Tim) attend Sea Defence Committee meetings which are held at the Golf Club and we report to the Brancaster Commons Committee.  There is to be another Sea Defence meeting very soon.  Watch this space!
Richard Lowe.

Brancaster Beach
Isolated Brancaster Beach is approached along a mile long road from Brancaster across the salt marshes.  This road also leads to the Royal West Norfolk Golf Club whose links have been on the dunes behind the beach since 1892.

A convenient car park and toilets are placed just before the 'Gap' through the sand dunes which is the entrance to the beach.

Long before these facilities were provided, local people found their way to the marsh and beach which as common lands provided sustenance for the community.  (See Common Rights)  Today the Common Rightholders still use their right to catch fish from the beach, graze their animals on the marsh and pick samphire for their suppers.

Nowadays, people come from miles away to enjoy the sun, warm sand, fresh air and the extraordinary light of the Norfolk sky which reflects the unbroken sea between us and the North Pole.  (see Ken Tidd's paintings)
But many of our visitors become over-adventurous and wander across the extensive sands at low tide to see either the wreck on it's sandbank or just to walk out to reach the low water for swimming.  It is then that the beach becomes a dangerous place.

Looking out over the village of Brancaster to the Royal West Norfolk Golf Clubhouse and beach

What are these dangers that are common to many West Norfolk beaches?
Firstly, the ebb and flow of the tide which even at low water can be 4 knots in the Brancaster harbour channel that appears below the beach when the tide is out.

Secondly, the uneveness of the bottom in all the channels.     There are quite deep holes ('warms' in local terminology) that cannot be seen and are filled with soft sand into which it is easy to fall.  Some can be very deep and will take an adult right down.  Many have springs and are 'bottomless'.

Thirdly, the swiftness of the incoming tide can and often does cut people off from the safety of the land.

As long as visitors are aware of these dangers, our beach is a lovely and safe environment for those family outings by the sea.

The National Trust warning sign at the entrance to the beach which was erected in April 2001 as a response to the tragedy of the drowing of little Jake Parker off the beach in August 2000.