A thrifty walk

I went for a stroll along the beach at Burton Bradstock in Dorset with a friend who lives nearby.  When we arrived it was raining and very windy but after a coffee in the Hive Beach Cafe we set off.  By then the rain had stopped and eventually the sun came out.  

The shingle beach here is the western part of the much larger Chesil Beach which stretches for 18 miles.  We were delighted to see swathes of Thrift (Armeria maritima) growing in abundance close to the edge of the beach.  On this photo you can also see  clumps of Sea Kale (Crambe maritima) in the distance.  It is a halophytic - salt loving plant that has scented white flowers and was eaten as a vegetable in the past.  This is present all along the beach and gives it a modern garden appearance with pebbles around each plant. Also present among the Thrift were Sea Campion flowers (Silene maritima).

A good place to visit with views of Golden Cap and Lyme Regis in one direction and Portland Bill in the opposite.