Sunny
Hayling Island
JOY
UNCONFINED
It
is said by everyone, everywhere, all of the time,
that Hayling Island is the premier wildlife location
in the world, easily beats Ecuador into second place,
is bathed in glorious sunshine on average 350 days
year. Furthermore, although Quito claims to be the
centre of the earth, located at degrees 0 –
0 – 0 the authentic epicentre is sunny Hayling
Island. *** Why any naturalist could ever consider
living anywhere else ranks with quantum mechanics
as one of the mysteries of the age. Stunning seascapes
which surround the coastline, ensures that Hayling
retains top spot of ‘Most Desirable Place to
Reside in the Universe’.
We
are contentedly nestled between Farlington Marshes
to the west, acclaimed as the best nature reserve
on the south coast, and to the east, we have Chichester/Selsey/Pagham
Harbours, comprising 100 miles of scenic walks. After
Norfolk, and Morecambe Bay, this entire area is the
third best for numbers of wintering seabirds.
Not
only are there are splendid views in all directions,
but all are admirably different. Views to the north
across Langstone Harbour, the Langstone Mill being
the most frequently painted scene in Hampshire.
To
the east, the South Downs, Cathedral, West Wittering
and Chichester Harbour.
Hayling
Bay, a 4 mile stretch of beach along the south, overlooks
the Isle of Wight and the Solent.
We
look upon the busiest shipping lane in the world,
warships, tall ships, short ships are a constant feature,
and irrespective of how frequently and for how many
years we gaze over the sea, the light and the view
is ever-changing, it never repeats itself.
The
west allows views across to Easter, Portsmouth, Porchester
Hill and the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour. Truly,
we are fortuitous.
We
are so privileged to have the New Forest close-by,
the coastline, the Downs, be bordered by Dorset, many
naturalist’s favourite county with the Jurassic
Coastline and the Isle of Purbeck and West Sussex
another renowned county for preserving habitat, whilst
just up the road lies Surrey, the most wooded county
in the UK. Fortune shines upon us.
Wind-surfing
was invented here in 1958, and there is talk of a
£39 million centre being built on the island.
These windsurfers do not interfere with wildlife,
as they have their own stretch of the beach. We will
not mention jet-skiers.
Throughout
the southern coastline of England, shingle moves from
west to east. The one exception to this is the coastline
of Hayling Island. Why it goes from east to west is
unknown, as is most of the science of this subject,
hence it can only be assumed that it has something
to do with the Isle of Wight.
Forget Venice, the Rockies, Machu Picchu, the Rings
of Saturn, spare not the sun cream and indulge yourself
on Hayling.
JOY
SLIGHTLY CONFINED
***A
degree of artistic hyperbole, in truth, this has never
been said by anyone, anywhere at anytime, but Hayling
Island is not too bad a place.
The
‘Rough Guide’ puts Britain first, as having
more places of interest than anywhere else. Our scenery
and geology tends to change about every 20 miles,
the flora is lush, the history is rich, and wherever
you reside, your locality is, or can be a magnet for
wildlife.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayling_Island
www.hayling.co.uk/surfcam/
The
Wildlife of Hayling Island Pete Durnell and John Walters
May be purchased from the Hayling Island Bookshop,
34 Mengeham Road (02392 466620)
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