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Alan Watson Featherstone

ECOLOGIST, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER AND INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER
FOUNDER OF THE AWARD-WINNING CHARITY TREES FOR LIFE

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Castles of Sand: the sandstone coastline of Moray in Scotland

Castles of Sand: the sandstone coastline of Moray in Scotland

On the south coast of the Moray Firth in northeast Scotland there is a remarkable stretch of sandstone coastline between the village of Cummingston and the town of Lossiemouth. Characterised by steep cliffs, seastacks and caves, and with the sandstone bedrock sculpted into beautiful organic shapes by the waves, this coastline is a narrow strip of spectacular wildness between the land and the sea.

Sandy beaches alternate with rock pools that teem with life at low tide, while brightly-coloured lichens cover the rocks in the splash zone above the high tide line. In spring and early summer a variety of seabirds nest on the sheer cliffs, while otters can be seen scampering amongst the rocks and bottlenose dolphins pass by close to shore, en route to their feeding grounds in the inner Moray Firth.

Illustrated with stunning photographs, this presentation provides a comprehensive overview of this coastline and the life it supports. It also covers some of the human history of the coast, including the Sculptor’s Cave, with its Pictish carvings dating back to about 1,400 years ago.

As sandstone is a very soft rock type, the coastline is highly dynamic, with erosion of the cliffs, bedrock and seastacks constantly taking place. Like the sand castles made by children, these beautiful sandstone formations that we see today are ephemeral in nature, changing even within a human lifetime due to the power of the waves and tides. This presentation offers a unique visual celebration of this very special coastline in the early 21st century.

If you would like me to give this talk to a group or at an event, please contact me.

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My TEDx talk – Restoring the ancient Caledonian Forest.

TEDx TEDx – Restoring the Caledonian Forest

Recent posts

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News

  • ‘A Rewilding Journey’ workshop scheduled for 28 August – 4th September 2021
  • Interviews for the Accidental Gods podcast series
  • Beavers are still facing an uncertain future in Scotland
  • The Nature Talks: Reconnecting People and Planet Now More Than Ever
  • Trees and Bees Conference 19 March 2021

I’m speaking at…

  • Online presentation to the Elders Action Network, 6th June 2021 – 6 June 2021
  • A Rewilding Journey: Rewilding the World and Ourselves – 28 August 2021–
    4 September 2021

Over on Twitter…

Alan Watson FeatherstoneFollow

Alan Watson Featherstone
AlanWatsonFeat1Alan Watson Featherstone@AlanWatsonFeat1·
7h

Even if there were no other valid & compelling reasons for Scotland to become independent, this alone would be sufficient cause. Additional nuclear weapons being installed in Scotland without public knowledge or consent is an outrage against democracy.

The Ferret@FerretScot

In 2018 @NukewatchUK estimated three new #nuclear warheads arrived at Coulport on the Clyde. Then nine in 2019, and 13 in 2020.

https://theferret.scot/sleekit-increase-trident-nuclear-warheads/

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AlanWatsonFeat1Alan Watson Featherstone@AlanWatsonFeat1·
16h

From Siberia to the Amazon & Borneo, forest fires are a major cause of the biodiversity crisis, often for agriculture. "in India most of such fires are deliberately caused by people mainly for agricultural purposes" We need planet-friendly agriculture! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56671148

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AlanWatsonFeat1Alan Watson Featherstone@AlanWatsonFeat1·
16h

This is an excellent article about @royhdennis in the Guardian today. I've known Roy for many years & he's one of those rare people who just gets on & does inspiring, positive work for nature, not letting bureaucracies & mainstream inertia stop him. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/16/conservation-legend-roy-dennis-were-facing-an-ecological-crisis-but-its-exciting-too

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