The Nation's Ode to the Coast

The Nation’s Ode to the Coast has been unveiled, a poem written for the nation with verses inspired by the public’s memories of what makes our coast so special. The British public helped Dr. John Cooper Clarke finish the nation's poem by sharing over 11,500 contributions of why they #love the coast.

The National Trust’s Neptune Coastline campaign is one of the longest running environmental campaigns in Western Europe and has resulted in the charity managing 775 miles of coast, equating to almost 10% of England, Wales and Northern Ireland’s coastline.

First seal pup of the season

The first seal pup of the year has been born on the Farne Islands, marking the start of this year’s annual seal count by the Islands’ resident Rangers. 

© National Trust

Every year, over 1500 pups are born on the islands, which is one of the largest Atlantic grey seal colonies in England with a population estimated at 5000. 

The breeding season for seals on the Farnes sometimes starts as early as mid-September with the majority of pups being born in October and November. Although the pups can swim at an early age they don’t normally leave the breeding colony until they have been weaned and moulted their white coats.

© National Trust