Belgrave Bay

Today we had some sunshine and I took this shot from outside my workplace. There is a lot of seaweed thrown up by recent rough weather. Seaweed formed an important part of country life in Guernsey's past. Known as 'vraic' (pronounced rack) it was used for fertiliser. Numerous slipways were built to allow farmers easy access down to the beaches with their horses and carts. Following is a description of the vraicing activity as described by Louisa Clarke in 1843.

All round this coast from Lihou to Cobo Bay, the marine herb or algae called vraic,is very plentiful. This sea-weed, which is used both as fuel and manure, is of the greatest value to the farmers, aud of the utmost importance to the poor fishermen, who being unable to afford coal or wood for the winter, depend upon this for firing, and sell the ashes for manure; about twenty bushels are requisite for one vergée of land.
There are two kinds of vraic, the "vraic scié,"so called from being cut from the rock with a small reaping-hook, and the "vraic venant," being washed on the coast and gathered after every spring-tide, particularly if the weather is stormy. So important is this article in the island, that certain restrictions specified in the ordinances of the court are laid upon the time and manner of its appropriation.
Poor persons who possess neither horse nor cart are allowed to cut it during the first eight days of the first spring-tide afer Easter, provided they carry it on their backs to the beach.
The manner of cutting and gathering this product is worth noticing. On the morning of the appointed days hundreds of country people assemble from all parts, two or three families joining company, some with carts, and some with horses, having panniers slung on each side of them; they proceed to the beach, and as the tide ebbs they scatter themselves over the bays, the most active, on foot or on horseback, wading to the rocks, as far out as possible. Some going in boats to detached rocks, even at a great distance, and being all armed with small bill-hooks, they cut away as fast as possible, sending it off in boat-loads to the beach, where it is deposited in heaps, upon which a smooth stone is laid, having the initials of the owner chalked upon it.
The scene is such a merry one that the stranger will be repaid for a walk or ride to either of these bays on a vraicing day: the odd costumes of both men and women, with trousers and petti-coats tucked up for greater freedom of limb; the varied dress of the younger ones, who turn out on this occasion with as much delight as on a holiday; those who cannot cut vraic being employed in carrying it; whilst most of the women gather ormers, crabs, and limpets in such prodigious quantities that the market is always overstocked with them on these occasions.
At the close of the day, when the tide has risen to its height, and the retreating labourers are fairly beaten back to the sandy beach, the younger ones conclude the business by a general bathing; and a whole string of men and women, march into the water as far they can, and duck each other heartily; splashing, tumbling, screaming, laughing, and then go home thoroughly soaked, but as light-hearted as they are heavy-footed, to enjoy a plentiful supper of shellfish, fried ormers and boiled limpets, which are very excellent eating for those who have good digestions.
The "vraic venant" is not gathered in the same manner; it is mostly done in rough weather, whenthe boisterous waves having torn it from the rocks, it is cast upon the beach, aud the men send out enormous rakes with which they drag the vraic on shore beyond the reach of the sea. This employment is the most laborious, from the weight and strain of the heavy rakes; and not without some danger, as they are often wrenched from their hands,and brought violently back against the legs of the men, who thus risk broken limbs, as the shingles dragged by the tide from beneath their feet cause many tumbles and drenchings.