Tour of the Fitties

The breezy beach.

Today I enjoyed taking Binbrook WI on a tour of the Fitties, talking to them about the dunes and the saltmarsh and the ever-changing sand banks. It's always nice to show off our coast to folks who have never been here before, particularly on a day like today when the light over the Humber was so clear and we could see across to Spurn Point. This is part of my work to re-enchant the landscape with stories to bring it to life for both locals and visitors. I must have succeeded as I've had some lovely feedback,'Thank you so much for showing us around the fitties with such enthusiasm. It really brought the area alive for us.'

Shifting sands at the Humberston Fitties

Standing here upon the shore

Standing here, while looking there.

As the waters are shadowed by cloud.

As the moody forts sit, both far and near.

While at our feet, bright sand scurries.

And the creek bends a strong arm

around the shifting sand banks.

Pushing them to here, from over there.

Beguiling the unwary,

as it wraps them in its tidal embrace.

Over there the lighthouse at Spurn glistens,

like a freshly licked humbug, on the far shore.

Olive-grey saltmarsh lays a thick tufted carpet

between here, there, and the pier.

Wading birds speckle the strandline,

that's coming nearer, from afar, to over here.

Woolly balls of cloud quickly blow

from here, there and everywhere,

while the soft sand continues to travel south,

from here to far away.