Picture Post: Spurn Point

It’s one of the county’s most remote spots and recently Spurn Point became that little bit more cut off.
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The road leading to the narrow spit of land has been closed for some time following two unusually high tides. The seawater damaged part of the narrow road, not that its closure deters the hardy visitors who still explore the area on foot or by bike.

While at first glance this bleak landscape might seem devoid of life, nothing could be further from the truth. Spurn Point is teeming with wildlife and is widely thought to be the best place to watch bird migration in mainland UK.

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A rich mosaic of sandy beaches, mudflats, saltmarsh, dunes, saline lagoons and open water, it’s little wonder that Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has its eye on turning the redundant lighthouse into a visitors’ centre.

The 150ft lighthouse has stood empty since 1985 but it remains a very visible landmark at the end of the 3.5-mile peninsula. Built in the 1890s, it is now Grade II listed and with the trust having successfully secured a £470,000 lottery grant, it looks set to enjoy a new chapter in its already long history.

During the First and Second World Wars gun emplacements sprang up on the site as it became a key base to guard against invasion. Now two of those former military buildings are to be turned into a viewing platform as the trust looks to encourage more visitors to this East Coast outpost throughout the year.

During the winter months most come to spot a bird of prey. It may be only 164ft wide in places, but with short-eared owls, merlin and peregrines all setting up home on Spurn Point alongside the thousands of wildfowl and waders, they rarely leave disappointed.

Technical details: Nikon D800 camera with 20mm lens; 1/400th second @ f10. ISO 200.

PICTURE: Terry Carrott

WORDS: Sarah Freeman