Postcard from...

Hoylake, on the Wirrall

At Van Walt we are sometimes faced with interesting challenges! This one - to take undisturbed 1 metre samples, inter-tidally from a beach off the Wirrall.

Having discussed various options we opted for the outstanding liner sampler which is part of our window sampling set.

The day gave us a brisk South-westerly but thankfully, no rain. At low tide we chose a likely spot and stared drilling. The results were stunning. Even to old hands like ourselves the sample revealed clay layers, worm channels and seashells - much to the delight of the academics present including Professor Richard Worden, from the Department of Earth & Ocean Sciences, University of Liverpool.

Sand, sea and sampling don’t always mix... but this time they did! The University of Liverpool is now buying the set which will travel extensively; in the UK, Eatser India and then Brazil.

Here are some more photos from our day out!