Fergus Collins, editor@countryfile.com
My last long seaside holiday was on Anglesey – a haven of wonderfully diverse coastal landscapes that is a microcosm of the UK as a whole. There are seastacks and islands, dunescapes and sandy strands, discreet coves and marshy estuaries. How blessed we are in the UK to have such an incredible variety of habitats – and globally important populations of seabirds and other marine life to populate them. Naturalist Phil Gates beautifully captures this diversity in his exploration of our coastal wildflowers on page 64, and James Fair examines the elemental forces that create heart-stopping spectacles – such as whirlpools and tidal waves (page 52).
But it’s impossible to talk about our coasts – and water generally – without going to the dark side: pollution. From the plastic we toss away and sewage from our inadequate water-treatment systems to agricultural and chemical waste and even precious topsoil, our rivers and coastlines are being poisoned and choked. Many beaches are too toxic for bathing, many rivers may see fish species going extinct. Can you image UK rivers without the mighty salmon?
Investigative journalist Nicola Cutcher tackles the issue – and the polluters – head on in her article, page 38. But the rest of us are not helpless or blameless in this issue either. Nicola shows what we can all do to make a difference and turn this situation around.
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THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS
Julie Brominicks, ‘Discover Cumbria’s coast’, page 18 “The Cumbrian coast is largely ignored by the multitudes who fre
