Walk along Torquays Coastal Road…time to contemplate.

A walk along the coastal roads of Torbay, Devon, particularly Torquay, my home town, is always a pleasure and full of surprises.
Stone steps and dirt paths lead to beautiful views of coast and sea. The coastal path runs close to the edge of unstable cliffs.

Sometimes there are a combination of man made structures…steel railings, wooden gates, brick arches, stone steps and buildings…and nature…which mostly blend and compliment.

The sea changes colour constantly depending on clouds and sunshine. Sometimes the sea is a jade green then it will turn to a silver grey then a deep blue…all in one afternoon.

Trees, bent by the vicious winter wind, hold on to the earth with deep roots, their trunks and branches twisted.

This time of year, autumn, sees coastal plants dying off and drying out. These delicate brittle plants cover hills and cliffs alongside robust green grasses and red berries and orange seed pods.

Birds…raptors, corvids and seagulls can be seen flying over the cliffs and sea and grey seals can still be found in some of our little coves.

The idyllic picture I paint of my home county is so far removed from the inner city London council estate where I grew up.
People here pass by and greet me with a smile, not the look of suspicion I would expect on the estate.
Surrounded by ancient trees, wild flowers, the soothing sound of the sea, soaring sea birds and delicate butterflies, I could so easily forget the cold concrete, the dark stairwells, the stinking lifts…..but I don’t.
I’ll never forget that some people in this world…an increasing number thanks to certain governments, are born without hope and without the wherewithal to get out, as I did.

That’s why I occasionally tweet something political, because I care.

World Heritage Status for Torbay, Devon, England, a possibility.

World Heritage Status for Torbay, Devon, England, a possibility.

Geoparks are areas with outstanding geological heritage.
Torbay, an area in Devon consisting of three seaside towns: Torquay, Paignton and Brixham and surrounding hills and countryside, is the first urban member of Unescos Global Geoparks group.
Devon is a county that gave its name to the Devonian Period of the Paleozoic Era which lasted from 417 million years ago to 354 million years ago. It is here that the old red sandstone of the Devonian was first studied.
The rocks of Lummaton Quarry in Torquay in Devon played an early role in defining the Devonian period.

Torquay is hosting an international conference on Geoparks in September 2016 and it is hoped that by then Torbay will be recognised as a World Heritage site.
It doesn’t surprise me. The scenery around our coast is simply breathtaking as well as being historically important. Walks from Daddy-hole plain in Torquay along the coast to the Imperial Hotel offer beautiful views over the bay and walks from Brixham to Berry head on the other side of the bay look inwards along the bays coastline and out to sea.

Babbacombe Green in Torquay also provides stunning views of the coastline and its geology.

On top of which we have many places of interest to geologists and tourists.
In Torquay, Kents Cavern where evidence has been unearthed to show that people have lived in the bay for thousands of years. A human jaw bone has been found and dated from 44,200–41,500 years BP, Europe’s earliest man, along with bones of Cave Bears, Sabre-tooth Cats, and Cave Lions, Cave Hyaena, Fox, Wolves, Wooly Rhinoceros and Mammoth.

Torre Abbey close to Torquays sea front has been used since it was built in 1196 as an abbey and as a private home.The Spanish Barn was used to hold shipwrecked Spanish sailors from the Armada in 1588.
Torquays harbour was used during the Second World War. Embarkation ramps were built for the D Day landings. The ramps can still be seen.

Brixham town started life around the year 800. Its history includes the landing of William of Orange, (William the third), in 1688 with his Dutch army.
Close to the town is Berry Head and the Napoleonic Fort begun in 1794 on the site of an Iron Age fort. There is also the impressive limestone quarry to be seen. The whole site is now an important nature reserve protecting some rare and threatened plants, bats and birds.

Back in Torquay the quant village of Cockington was established in the 10th century and Cockington Court was built in the 16th century and the lovely little church dates back to the 11th century.

Researching this post has made me even more appreciate this wonderful, extraordinary town I live in.

Last nights burnished copper skies…Torquay, Devon UK

Last nights burnished copper skies Torquay, Devon. UK.

The evening crept in with a silvery sky reflected in a still, sparkling sea.

The sunset gradually turned the sky into a rich, burnished copper. An astonishingly beautiful sight.

Beetle and Hover-flies of Devon….Torquays tiny wildlife.

Beetles and Hoverflies of Devon…Torquays tiny wildlife.

In recent years I have become fascinated by insects.

It started with this hover-fly I caught on camera last year….on looking through the shots and enlarging them I was astonished by the beauty and the delicate structure of the fly. It started an obsession with photographing, as much as my camera will allow me, the tiniest creatures.
This is the very first photograph I took of a hover-fly on a clematis which started my obsession. I hadn’t realised until this photo that those tiny little flies had such extraordinary body structures. I found it’s head particularly captivating.
It’s the actual process of searching for, photographing and then enlarging later these insects that has made me ‘see’ them for the first time.

A Bloody-nosed Beetle I photographed on the the Rock Walk my son and I took Saturday. We noticed it in the bush and as it marched across the wall to its destination, ignoring my sons attempt to stop him.
A well armoured, plump black beetle with intricate, heart-shaped, sections on its lower legs finished with two hook-like feet. Its antenna were like a row of tiny jet beads attached to its head.
It gets its name by exuding a red liquid from its nose when it feels threatened.

A Weevil, found in the bath. Apparently she can lay 500 eggs in one go.
The other interesting thing about the Vine Weevil is that she can’t fly and is parthenogenetic – no males required.
Considered by gardeners a nuisance because of their love for plant leaves.

A Speckled Bush Cricket small, delicate, as light as a feather.

What I have learnt from these small creatures is that we ignore so much of what is around us in our everyday lives. So much of beauty and fascination passes us by without a second glance. Look closer and I hope you will be as amazed as me.

@Max_Wildlife Thanks to Max for identification of Bloody-nosed Beetle.
Thanks to sleather2012 for info on Weevil.
Thanks to Simon Robson for info on Cricket.

The Great Gorilla Project of Paignton Zoo. Torbay/Torquay Devon.

The Gorillas of Devon…Paignton Zoos Project.

In various sites in Devon, in towns on the Torbay Riviera and in Exeter, can be found life-size models of a gorilla painted in varied colours and designs and sponsored by community groups and businesses…part of the Great Gorilla Project.
The project marks a celebration of 90 years of conservation work by Paignton Zoo and raises awareness for Nigeria’s Cross River Gorillas, of which only 300 exist in the wild.
The Cross River Gorilla can be found along the Nigeria and Cameroon border. It is one of the most endangered apes. Bushmeat hunting and habitat loss have pushed them to near extinction.

The Gorillas can be seen until October, so look out for them.

Here are a few of the Gorillas around Torquay. The first one is my favourite…’Five minutes to midnight ‘ a phrase which emphasises the danger to the gorillas and, in fact, to much of the worlds wildlife. The Gorilla is painted by Jane Ververis Callan.
‘Five minutes to midnight’ think about it…..

This Gorilla can be found outside Living Coasts in Torquay. Deborah Treliving decorated Hippocampus Guttulatus. Appropriate for the Living Coast theme and because sea horses are endangered as well.

These Gorillas are in the St Marychurch precinct and alongside the road leading to the Model Village, near St Marychurch. ‘Vanilla Gorilla’ by Nathan Sheen and ‘Back of Beyond’ by Peter Poole.

This Gorilla can be found at Babbacombe Downs. It is called ‘Hope’ by Stuart Wright. Beautifully painted with images of two of the worlds endangered animals…the Gorilla and Tiger.

Torbays Regatta…fireworks, Red Arrows, boat races etc.

Torbay Regatta is next week.
The funfair on Torre Abbey Meadows is on until the 28th August.
There is a French market along the Princess Gardens from 23rd August for several days.
From 24th August there are various rowing events and on Monday 26th August there is a going to be a spectacular fireworks display which can be seen from the sea front and many high points in Torquay from 9.30pm.
On the 27th August there is a Water Skiing display in the evening and on Wednesday 28th August from 4.30 there is a parachute display, wing walking and the amazing Red Arrows..
The last week in August is always a busy and exciting one for locals and tourists alike, especially if the weather is fine and so far the signs are promising for some sunshine and clear skies.
I will be posting photos of all events next week as they happen. Here, meanwhile, are some photos of Torquays Big Wheel, in town until October. The fair can be seen behind it.