Colin says: Along the west coast and around the north and south ends of Walney Island - the upper beach pebbles have been formed into what is known as shingle "Storm Ridges" by extreme wave action. Such ridges often have a flattish top which extends a few meters landwards upon which vegitation has managed to gain a foothold. Such vegetated shingle is a signigicant factor in sustaining the diversity of wildlife which makes Walney's Northen Nature Reserve so special. By contrast - along the sheltered east coast of Walney Island, only narrow beaches of fine shingle, averaging about 3cm diameter, have developed, flanked by saltmarshes and broad mudbanks/sandbanks towards Walney Channel.
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