Some areas of Britain will see the lowest tides for almost two centuries this weekend, enabling people to catch a glimpse of marine species and hidden natural treasures that are rarely ever seen.
Checking Somerset tide times will be on the agenda for many in the region as the lowest tides for 200 years are predicted. Minehead is likely to see the tide drop by an incredible 36ft in some places, revealing the remains of a normally submerged woodland. The woodland set to be uncovered was once similar to the Somerset Levels with an abundance of birch and Aldercar oaks trees.
A Pipe Fish
About 10,000 years ago, the area between Somerset and Wales was all woodland, but melting glaciers caused the sea levels to rise, knocking over the trees, which then became embedded in peat. It is expected that this weekend’s record low tides will reveal the layers of peat and the twigs encased in them.
Wildlife surveys are also planned in the area over the weekend to take advantage of the unusual conditions and Minehead may also see the revealing of medieval fish traps which were known as weirs. This type of fishing, which happened in a gap in a 100m-long wall of stone off the coast, started up to 1,000 years ago and was still used to some degree in the 1920s and even right up until the time of World War Two.
The low tides should also make it possible to see a wider array of marine life than usual, including the Bloody Henry and common starfish, pipefish, squid, cuttlefish, strawberry anemone and the common sunstar (pictured top). Many people are expected to take advantage of the unusual conditions but a warning has been issued to ensure that people stay aware of the tide times to ensure that they do not put themselves in danger.
