There
be lots of islands, so this might be an I for an Irritatingly long post! ...
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| Scilly Isles off Lands End, Cornwall: Looking across Tresco, one of the five inhabited islands (28 mi/45 km offshore) |
I is
for Islands ... it is estimated that Great Britain (England, Scotland and
Wales) has a total of 6,289 islands, most in Scotland. 803 of
these are large enough to have been digitised: information courtesy of Alistair McConnachie and his Sovereignty publication.
Northern
Ireland shows 160 islands: 57 offshore and 103 on inland lakes.
The
three British Crown Dependencies are:
 |
| Kingdom of Mann - about 1100AD - showing numerous islands |
The
Bailiwick of Guernsey in the English Channel, has 8 main islands and at least
49 rocky outcrops.
The
Bailiwick of Jersey also in the English Channel, has a motley selection of 273
islands or island groups ...
The
Isle of Man in the Irish Sea has two main islands with a number of rocky
outcrops .. about 30 in all ...
 |
| Calf of Man, over Calf Sound |
...
totalling approximately 6,800 islands ... of which about 1,000 have
settlements, though some of the tiny islands may have a croft farm or two ...
or have become bird sanctuaries, or nature reserves ...
Calf of
Man, Isle of Man .. is now a bird observatory to the many Manx shearwaters that live there.
Calf comes from the Norse word
kalfr, which conveniently means a
small island off a larger one.
 |
| Manx Shearwater (white throat and underside) painted by Brunnich 1764 in Naumann's History of Birds |
Lundy
Island in the Bristol Channel is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for both
its birds and the Marine Conservation zone.
28 people live on the island, which apart from the research and
protection aspects mainly looks after a thriving tourism industry. See Wiki for more info and my post on Lundyand its Puffin Money.
 |
| Inside a Rock Pool: Beadlet anemones, whelks, limpets, jellyfish and Coralina (red seaweed) |
One
last island fact – to my surprise apparently GB is the ninth largest island in
the world, but is the third most populous: after Java (Indonesia) and Honshu
(Japan).
Inside
a Rock Pool – a natural world in miniature – a specialised habitat in which
plants and animals live together.
 |
| Searching around ... |
The wondrous world of salty water and plenty
of ‘funny’ things to look at by little ones as they peer into, poke around and
see what moves inside the rock pool ...
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| Beadlet anemone in full flow |
Anemones
prepare for low water by folding-in their tentacles becoming jelly-like-blobs,
to avoid drying out ...
 |
| Common prawns hiding |
The
plants capture light-energy from the sun and obtain nutrients from
seawater. They provide food for winkles,
limpets etc – these are eaten by flesh-eating animals such as starfish, small
fish, whelks ...
 |
| A composite via Wiki of Black-backed gulls |
... and
there are the crabs, prawns and other scavengers that eat both plant and animal
material. Water sievers such as
barnacles and mussels consume tiny particles of floating food ...
... the
great black-backed gull prowls among the rock pools, stabbing at anything
edible with its strong bill. Rock-pool
fish live in danger ... from predators, as well as the tidal flow ...
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| Sea Loch - c/o Wiki by Steve Partridge |
Inside
rock-pools - life must hold on tight ...
In sea
coasts, an inlet usually refers to the actual connection between a bay and the
ocean or sea ... the Irish or Scottish Gaelic word for a lake and a sea inlet
is a loch.
 |
I is
for Inspiration ... “Brighton: the front, and the chain pier seen in the
distance” – by Frederick William Woledge (active 1840) ... as Brighton developed in the late 1700s and early 1800s, it inspired many to sketch and paint this scene ...
including Turner, Constable
John
Betjeman rated Portloe Harbour, Cornwall as one of the “least spoiled and most
impressive” of Cornwall’s fishing villages: see The Guardian’s article onHarbours.
That is
I for Islands: too many to mention; the fascinating world Inside a rock pool; long
Inlets called L for lochs; Inspiration for kiddlies, naturalists,
artists and writers ... and an I for Irritatingly long post!: apologies ... but
... from Aspects of British Coasts ...
Hilary
Melton-Butcher
Positive
Letters Inspirational Stories
42 comments:
Not irritating, but interesting post :) Good dose of Information and the Rock Pool picture is amazing :)
Cheers ~ Kaushik
Hilary, no sooner did I look away, than I see I've missed many more fascinating posts from you. I'm going to scroll back now and have a good read. Love the treasures in the rock pools and hearing about the islands (including Britain). Thank you.
Beautiful rock pools and little quirky creatures...what really surprised me was how many islands we have, goodness I'd no idea! I've stayed on Lundy with the Landmark Trust, take a look at their website, they preserve period property and you can book a historic property at great prices...you'd love it, I think.
Thanks for the visits.:)
Loving the A to Z Challenge Maggie@expatbrazil.
I love the rock pools. So many many interesting things on your island.
I remember looking out over the Bristol Channel to Lundy when we used to holiday in Somerset. I had no idea we had so many islands though. In my head I knew we had some, but not so many, wow.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings - AtoZ (Vampires)
FB3X - AtoZ (Erotic Drabbles)
So many Islands I hadn't realized! I wasn't familiar with rock pools but now I am...learned something.
I too grew up on an Island, being surrounded by the water is a wonderful and interesting lifestyle.
So many Islands I hadn't realized! I wasn't familiar with rock pools but now I am...learned something.
I too grew up on an Island, being surrounded by the water is a wonderful and interesting lifestyle.
That's a lot of islands! I'm surprised to hear that Great Britain is the 9th largest...wow. I'd have thought it would have ranked higher.
I didn't know there were so many. It would be so much fun to visit them.
There are a lot of islands around the British Isles. I have only visited the Scilly Isles once and that was many years ago. Have been to Jersey and Sark and Burgh Island off the coast of Devon. So still many more to visit. Informative post, Hilary. Fingers crossed my internet seems to be fixed!
Tresco has to be my favourite as we spent our 50th anniversary there.
Perhaps I'm having a senior moment. but how do you digitise and island?
Beautiful places with beautiful sea life.
Did you know your tetering on 500 followers? I even checked to make sure I was one. Darn it. I am and could not join.
T
Yes Bob, I was wondering that.
Not a long post by any means Hilary, yours are always ones I turn to early even when short of time. I love the pix of tide pools. I remember them from being a kid. I was going to say England is an island itself, but you said it for me, I am surprised it classifies as third largest.
I have always wanted to visit an island. I love the sea and beaches.
Besides the islands around the coast, Great Britain still has a few islands in the Caribbean. I wonder if they could be added to the total... auxiliary islands, as it were. :)
And exploring tidal pools is always a fun way to pass the time at the shore.
I'm in Ireland! Good timing to be there when you'd reached, I, don't you think? Visited a lovely beach in Wexford this morning - miles of golden sand dunes and nothing much elses at all.
You're right about funny looking things living in the sea. Rock pools seem to contain less wildlife than they used too - or maybe I'm looking in the wrong pools?
Rock Pool pictures are amazing !..very informative post !
@ Kaushik - thanks so much .. couldn't resist the I word for this long post! There is a lot in the post .. but I enjoy information ..
@ Juliet - thanks for coming around - a day goes by so quickly in the A-Z challenge ... and delighted to see you've read back - thanks ..
@ Maggie - they are quirky creatures in the pools aren't they ... and I was surprised at the island information - I just decided I wasn't going to curtail it ..
I'd love to visit Lundy and the Landmark Trust I know about .. at some stage I'll look at their sites ... I'm sure I'd love to stay at one of their places!
@ Marcy - GB does have lots going on .. and it makes it good to write about .. thanks ..
@ Natasha - I was surprised at the numbers of islands .. when I guess one could easily rattle of 20+ or so ...but so so many is just mind boggling ...
I must visit Lundy I think ... and Somerset I don't know that well .. cheers Hilary
@ Jen - so many islands as you say - and I loved writing about rock pools ... and now I'm wondering how big Long Island is compared to Britain .. I'll have to check ..
@ Elizabeth - I can't count to that many! But the 9th largest island I was surprised too - I was going in my thoughts the other way: not so big!!
@ Lynn - crumbs you'd still be visiting when you were 864?! So many ... fun thought though ..
@ Suzanne - I've never been to the Scilly Isles and I'm not sure my mother even got to visit?! Even though she lived in Penzance ..
We had great friends out on Sark at one stage - but again I've never visited the Channel Islands .. nor Burgh Island ... I have been to the Isle of Wight and Ireland and Anglesey!
Glad the internet is fixed .. long may it last ..
@ Bob - I remember you writing about your 50th on Tresco ... and re digitising an island - I linked to the site where I obtained all this wonderful information: I think and I'm guessing that there must be some form of life on the 803 islands .. if it was just a bird rock - I guess that's just a rock in the sea ... I hope that's right?!
@ Teresa - I've been pleased with the photos I've been able to find ... thanks. We've had an email conversation about my tottering 499 and the other landmark on Saturday ... enough said for now - but thanks for the interest!
@ Jo - well I answered you too by email and in Bob's reply above too ...
You're so kind - thank you so much .. just delighted people, you especially, are interested enough to read and comment ...
England isn't an island but Britain is .. for now?! Also it's the third most populous ..
@ Rachna - good to meet you here .. one day I hope you'll get a chance to visit an island with some beaches and warm sea ..
@ Bish - the linked site didn't mention the Commonwealth Islands .. so I passed them over in my head ... too complicated otherwise!
But rock pools are amazing aren't they -so beautiful .. and with so much plant and animal life in them ..
@ Patsy - welcome to Ireland - good timing: Absolutely!! Lucky you - I never got to Wexford but have seen the beaches .. sounds glorious ..
I have a horrible feeling you might be right about less wildlife in the pools ... human fiddling I suspect and pollution ..
~ Thanks Julekha - good to meet you and find out that you love rock pools too ..
Cheers everyone - so good to see you all and appreciate your interest in the posts .. Hilary
Not irritating at all - I loved every bit of it. I had no idea there were so many islands in Britain. Another reason for me to want to go back!
I love the pic of the gulls - absolutely love seagulls and they always make me smile.
The islands are what make your part of the world so exciting to travel. Ferries are one of my favorite ways to go from one place to another and GB offers up some wonderful trips. I love the Hebrides and spent some wonderful times on those islands. So exciting to read each of your posts,
I love rock pools, the tiny lives therein are so special to watch. I'm surprised there aren't more islands there. I saw Jersey on TV, it was gorgeous. Again, a wonderful journey around the shores of the British Isles.
No way you could ever be irritating. I need to use this in school. And will too. I'd love to visit Lundy Island, Hil. Those birds are beautiful! Calf of Man too. The water is gorgeous! I'm from an island so post means a lot to me. The Keys in Florida, where the water is so beautiful and all kinds of birds and other wildlife live there amongst the people. Great post. (Thanks for checking in on Christopher and me.) xoxoxo
Thanks again Hilary - I use your beautiful posts to take mini-vacations on the iPad while I'm sitting with mom in the hospital - she loves any picture of birds or sea life - we laughed at your lobster yesterday.
Lisa
That's a lot of islands.
Trust me, Britain doesn't want to be as populated as Japan.
I long for an island...a deserted one where I could spend a good long time..just getting away!
I am getting such a 'great education' with these wonderful posts.
Love the rock pools!
I am going to have my hubby take a peek tonight as we hope to travel back to Britain next year.
That is the tentative plan, anyway.
Thanks, Hilary
We used to have an anemone in our salt water tank when we lived in Florida. Our cute little clown fish kept it fed. :) I miss that tank, but it was constant keeping it up.
love the pictures! I always learn so much from your posts, Hilary!
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Thank you Hilary for such fabulous posts. I do have to catch up on your previous posts though. I think I missed a couple. Time just is flying by.
I was born on an island and lived here all my life! I love my island home!
Nas
WOW that's a lot of islands. It wasn't irritating, though, LOL, just fun!
Oh the fun of what you can find in a tidal pool!
This post held especial fascination for me as I lived most of my life on Guernsey so am used to island life.
You've got me wracking my brains though (not a pretty sight, believe me!) - I can only think of 7 islands in the Bailiwick: Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm are the main ones, with Lihou, Jethou, and Brecqhou also inhabited. What were you counting as the 8th?
@ Julie - so pleased - thank you .. and it'd be lovely if you did make it over here! Gulls are not the most favourite of creatures with us .. they do a lot of damage ... but the composite was a good photo -so glad you appreciate it!
@ Lee - lots of ferries here, especially if you went off to Scotland .. it's an area I haven't visited - I need to rectify that.
@ Inger - you want more than 6,800 islands? That's enough for me!! There are some very good documentaries on tv about this country and from the air the islands look just wonderful don't they ..
@ Robyn - well that's wonderful to hear - I hope the kids learn something about Britain from these posts ...
I've never been to Florida - though I've seen lots about it - and Lundy Island here I need to visit ..
Glad to hear Christopher is managing and that all continues on with you ..
@ Lisa - that's fun to know you're using these to share with your mother .. and they help bring a laugh to you both: good to know.
@ Alex - it is a lot of islands - well we're populated enough as it is .. and am not quite sure where we're going with it ..
@ Paula - yes: I know you'd love some peace and quiet .. having been on a similar journey - I can understand ... with thoughts.
@ Margie - so pleased that I'm 'entertaining' you .. they're fun to write up ..
Well I hope my posts help influence your hubby in some way .. and you do get back to visit us ..
@ Rosie - I saw about the clown fish hiding in the anemones tentacles - but they're not found in UK waters .. but your salt water tank must have been fascinating to sit and watch the plants and creatures in it ..
All things need to be kept in good health don't they .. I inherited a tank at one stage and yes it needed to be kept clean ...
@ Nutschell - lovely to see you - you offer us so much with all your posts and ideas ..
@ Munir - glad you've enjoyed the posts ..
@ Nas - I'm sure I'd love your island home - as much as Denise did when she visited .. it looks to be an amazing place .. lucky you!
@ Liz - so pleased it wasn't too long .. lots of facts though .. and lots of islands ..
@ Andrea - tidal pools are extraordinarily interesting aren't they ..
@ Ian - I hadn't realised you'd spent most of your life on Guernsey .. what a great background to have had ..
Re the Bailiwick of Guernsey .. I took the figures of Alistair Mcconnachie's link at the top of the post ...
I've emailed you with that info .. looks like "Burhou" ...
Cheers to you all and am so glad I didn't irritate you all totally .. thankgoodness! Hilary
Hi Hilary. I'm trying to catch up with the A-Z challenge.
I hope I will visit one of those islands one day.
The anemones are fascinating.
The pictures are gorgeous.
That Scilly Isles area looks stunning!
That many islands?? Wow. I wonder if there'd ever be time and a way to visit them all. I'd love to see the Scottish ones!
All the life in the rock pools is so intriguing. I saw a few minutes of a nature show the other day that showed turtles hatching on the shore and struggling to make their way to the ocean. Such a difficult first few hours of life!
Not at all irritatingly long! In fact quite the opposite and, as per your usual, full of fascinating information. I've been to Brighten once, but don't remember much about it and would like to go back. We have tide pools as well and love to explore them. When I was young I would pretend that fairy's lived in them and danced among all the anemones and crabs...
Inside a rock pool... fascinating specialized miniature habitat... it's amazing how the nature shows capture these moments, which probably take months of filming/editing...
Great post as usual.
@ Julia – anyone reading these will be forever catching up – I’m way behind in following and commenting et al ... it’d be lovely to see you over here with your daughter and visiting a seaside with some rock pools ...
@ Trisha - I hate to say I’ve yet to visit ..
@ Deniz – I know, but I knew there were a lot .. so being able to put it into a post makes it interesting doesn’t .. I also need to visit the Scottish islands ... rock pools are special – but seeing the little turtles scuttle to the seas – as you say such a difficult start to life ..
@ Lisa – thanks so much - just glad everyone doesn’t appear to be bored! Brighton doesn’t look like this now ... but if you get here .. it’d be great to meet up ... I think we all love the seaside don’t we ... I don’t remember making up stories around the pools though – sounds like you’ve got a great story line here...
@ Michelle – exactly a very specialised miniature habitat .. relevant to each specific area too ... nature is quite extraordinary ... and aren’t we lucky that we can see a great deal of it via the dreaded tv ... but such amazing filming and editing ..
Thanks so much – lovely to see you all .. Cheers Hilary
It is amazing all of the life that exists in and around water. I bet it would be an amazing line of work to be in (studying it).
Hi Rosie .. I imagine an ecology scientist specialising as a Naturalist has a very interesting life - with lots of cross referencing ..
I wrote about Naturalists under N .. this year and last year ..
Cheers Hilary
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