Donald Mitchell Countryside Ranger Looks At Sand

5th January 2025

Sands of Time - Donald asks the question about the sustainability of our beaches.

I'm thinking of this poem whilst carrying out one of my favourite past times, beachcombing - walking on the beach and looking, and thinking - a bit.

To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.

from "Auguries of Innocence" by William Blake.


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Sands of Time
Donald asks the question about the sustainability of our beaches
Jan 5





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To see a World in a Grain of Sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand

And Eternity in an hour.

from "Auguries of Innocence" by William Blake.

I'm thinking of this poem whilst carrying out one of my favourite past times, beachcombing - walking on the beach and looking, and thinking - a bit.

Looking at the sand.

Sand is a four-letter word, but it carries a whole world of meaning. It is not gravel, it is not silt, it is in between. Of course! We all recognise sand, don't we? Science has it measured to a high degree, each grain must be of a certain dimension, but we don't need that unless using sand for a specific reason or purpose.

We use billions of tonnes of sand worldwide, mostly in concrete for construction and that is becoming an environmental problem. Why not use the Sahara sand, more than billions of tonnes there? Alas no - it's the wrong kind of sand, shaped and moved by the wind, it is too smooth and rounded for concrete.

We will have to stop using sand eventually though, it is a finite resource, being used faster than it is created. Our beaches are created from the mountains and rivers and our collapsing coastlines. Millions of years of erosion and glaciation washing and shoving glacial sand of all types, including limestone to the sea. All this plus many more millions of years of sea life deposition, plankton and hard-shelled creatures, to provide us with our lovely beaches.

The Scottish Highlands has superb beaches, many with white sands which, in our case comes from the seashells. It is worth picking up a handful of sand to examine very closely, using a hand lens or taking a wee bit to put under a microscope. There will be a myriad of tiny broken shells, of amazing shapes and colours, fractured masterpieces and shiny gems.

The gems are of the mineral sand, minute rock pieces from the mountains, possibly very ancient. Our beaches will have different percentages of shell sand to mineral sand, some of the west coast will have very high levels of shells others may have more minerals, perhaps where sea life is not so prolific. The kyle of Durness for instance has a greater percentage of mineral glacial sand, next time that you are down on the beach check the sand, it's fascinating.

As I lift my eyes from the sand, I turn my attention to the strandline—the sea's treasure trove. Here, the waves leave behind a medley of seaweed, driftwood, and the odd surprise that tells a story of the ocean's journey, I may pocket the odd item of interest carried to the beach and take it home.

Amongst these treasures, I make it my mission to remove any rubbish I find, a small act to keep our beaches pristine. But I leave the stones and shells behind, letting the sea continue its timeless work of tumbling and shaping them into the grains of sand that make our shores so beautiful.

Beachcombing is more than about looking down—it's about connecting with the shore and leaving it better for the next wanderer to enjoy, [many are unaware that it is actually illegal to remove any natural material from the shore -Coastal protection act of 1949]. Look out for treasure, odds and ends of interest which the sea carries in, whatever catches the eye, but no shells and certainly no sand!

Donald Mitchell is a High Life Highland Countryside Ranger, a keen observer of nature and wildlife, he dedicates his time to documenting and sharing insights about the natural habitats in North West Sutherland. With a particular interest in marine life, he aims to help others gain a deeper understanding and respect for the delicate balance of our ecosystem.

Interested in beach finds ?- why not join Donald in the online talk:
Beachcombers guide to the strange finds on the beaches of North West Highlands
Thursday, January 23, 2025 · 7:30 - 9pm GMT

Minimum spend £1 (booking fee)- Donations to the ranger service gratefully received.

From stranded whales and sea turtles to mermaids purses and by-the-wind sailors Ranger Donald Mitchell and Andy Summers will take you through some of the fascinating and weird finds that have occured on the remote beaches of West Sutherland. Treasure such as driftwood, fossils, unusual sea creatures, interesting pebbles, sea glass, bizarre animal footprints and beautiful seaweeds.

Book at
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beachcombers-guide-to-the-strange-finds-on-the-beaches-of-nw-highlands-tickets-1073209832499

PHOTO
Balnakeil Beach by Andy Summers

See more at Nature Unveiled
https://highlifehighlandranger.substack.com/