Mersea Stone

[bromleybysea]

Now here's a thing. On Saturday the good folks of Tollesbury Cruising Club turned up at Mersea Stone for the annual BBQ. For the past couple of years we have been in the habit of letting the kids camp on the Stone overnight- good Swallows and Amazons stuff and a good time is had by all. In the morning I went over to help pack up and found the kids being berated by one of those peculiar people who walk around with a camera with an unfeasably long lens and combat fatigues who was lecturing them about "camping not being allowed on Mersea stone, no fires allowed, no BBQs etc." Now, as far as I know people have been camping and having BBQs on the Stone at least since I first went to Brightlingsea in the 1970's. We always clear up after ourselves, and other people often as not. I can't bear it. More and more bloody jobsworths telling us we can't do this and that because its against 'elf an' safety or it disturbs the birds or whatever. Young people can't do anything these days without running the risk of being moved-on or arrested or served with an ASBO.

Said bloke was persistant so he eventually got the full force of my pent-up displeasure, but it really annoyed me that the innocent pleasure of a nights camping on the beach for a couple of 15-year old lads is now seen as anti-social behaviour. Rant over.

 

[Vamoose]

Oh dear thats sad !

As a boy we used to go camping there as well in the early 60's. No adult supervision. Sail the the Bsea sec mod school clinker dinghy over from Bsea Hard with a couple of mates, loaded with canvas tent, poles, kettle, sausages, frying pan, wellington boots, kapok lifejackets, plimsoles etc etc, all of which was usualy soaked by the time we arrived.

Reverse the journey next day arriving home soaking wet, starving hungry, covered in mud , dead tired,but having had a fantastic time.. I think any parent allowing their child to do that would be locked up and the key thrown away these days !¬

Second beach was also a favourite for camping beach parties & BBQ's, but I understand thats a no go area these days.

Happy Days !

 

[Cobra]

Second beach was also a favourite for camping beach parties & BBQ's, but I understand thats a no go area these days.

Sadly as you say Second Beach is now limited to an area about 100 metres in width that the Essex Naturalists Trust feel will not affect the breeding habits of the Lesser spotted whatever...the rest of the glorious expanse of beach that we all used to enjoy in years gone by is apparently now 'vital' breeding grounds for said birds...nuff said!