THis is a screen grab of Thing 56. 80×18 Things to Do in Bristol for Young People. See the Tide. See the website here

I came across these guys when visiting Lamplighters Marsh, Shirehampton, Bristol (Nr the mouth of the River Avon) They are members of Shirehampton Yacht Club, and, each Saturday, meet to clear mud of the old slipway. This used to be the slipway for Pill Ferry. Now it is used for launching the club’s boats. In the past the slipway was level with the bank and kept clear of mud  by the flow of the tides. Now the banks have been built up on either side of the slipway (partly for flood defence) and each tide drops a lot of mud on it. It very quicky becomes unusable unless a rolling programme of clearing is maitained.

This is an interesting proposal

We are slightly wary of its seeming self-importance and feel of large corporate public art type stuff

Still – here is the info from the website

“Aluna is a unique proposal for the world’s first tidal powered Moon Clock. It will change the way we consider time and understand our planet.

Larger than Stonehenge, Aluna’s forty metre wide, five storey high structure is made up of three concentric translucent recycled glass rings.

By looking at how each ring is illuminated, you can follow the Moon’s movements, its current phase and the ebb and flow of the tides. This animation of light is called Alunatime.

Using the latest design and technologies, Alunatime will be powered directly by the tides using turbines.

A waterside landmark and a public sculpture, Aluna unites art, science and spirituality and is an ever-changing reminder of the natural cycles that have shaped our past”

Website here

Here is their promo film

Time & Tide – forthcoming exhibition

Re-posted from

Flotsam Weaving

by Joanna Atherton

I am excited to announce that I will be exhibiting my flotsam tapestries in a new solo show at Artistsmeet in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. Time & Tide opens on 19 January and runs until 26 February 2016.

The sea curates orphaned objects and presents them to the shore; a temporary narrative replenished with each changing tide. I am fascinated by these unexpected and ignored fragments, imagining who they were important to in another time and place. By weaving strands of found objects together, I am able to repurpose the lost and rejected, pondering threads of stories and yarns long forgotten.

As well as your chance to see a unique collection of tapestries handwoven from materials found on the British coastline, you are invited to create your own small tapestry using coastline curiosities. Join me on Wednesday 27 January 2016 from 11am to view the exhibition and learn more about weaving with found objects. Looms, materials, coffee and cake provided – just bring your imagination!

Entry is free, but booking is required. To secure your place, please call 01923 776611 or email leisure@threerivers.gov.uk. 

Download the Time & Tide exhibition flyer to book your place on a FREE 2 hour flotsam weaving workshop on Wednesday 27 January 2016 at the Gallery.

The Petitcodiac River and the Legend of the Tidal Bore Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, by Michael Martin

see here

Sample picture

I have added a link to the Sustainable Eel Group to the links on the home page.

This group are committed to developing sustainable management of seas, rivers and estuaries in order to help eel population recovery. Great vision and energy.

http://www.sustainableeelgroup.com/

The ‘mega’ tides of South West Britain – John Burrows

• Wednesday 23 September 7.00pm-8.00pm
• Lecture (Cheltenham)

Previewing the UK’s highest tides in 25 years that are set for 29/30 September, this talk will place the enormous tides of South West Britain in a global context.

Venue: Room TC001, School of Natural & Social Sciences, University of Gloucestershire,
Francis Close Hall Campus, Cheltenham, GL50 4AZ.

Places: free, no booking necessary.

Great Sea Shanty Group in Bristol who tll tales – sing songs – anbout the pilot cutters and much more

http://roaringtrowmen.co.uk/pilotcutters/http://roaringtrowmen.co.uk/pilotcutters/

Tenby is a long-loved holiday destination for us.

We always try to book holiday when the tides are high/low. This makes bigger beaches; dramatic scenes; opens up great low-tide walks; and high tide swimming possibilities.

This map charts some of these  (not all are tide related but this is a tidal kingdom overall)

Estuaries are very rich and complex habitats with a mix of processes, flows and exchanges between aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity. Brackish waters, (mix of salt and fresh water) and turbid waters (waters carrying silt etc) form unique, locally very varied and dynamic habitats. Inter tidal zones are some of the most biodiverse habitats known. So to build large tidal lagoons which radically change / degrade these conditions is an overwriting of rich, complex biodiverse landscapes for the sake of development. To me this parallels the clearing of rainforests for such purpose as palm oil production. This is rightly a cause for worldwide environmental concern, boycotts and campaigns (links below). Tidal lagoons (and barrages) should be seen in the same light. Yes, green / renewable energy is vitally important, but there are much better ways of going for that. Lagoon and barrage energy is not green energy it is ‘dirty’ energy.

See here for more on plam oil

http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/forests/palm-oil

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/harvesting-palm-oil-and-rainforests/