Seashore Treasures

So if you’re looking for screen-free, low-cost memories with the kids this spring, here are three beautifully Guernsey ways to embrace the season.

Rock pools

Long enjoyed by local children and adults alike, scanning the low tides for what might be lurking is great fun. Guernsey’s large tidal range makes it arguably one of the best places in the British Isles for rock pooling and we love nothing more than hunting for “treasure.”

The most important advice is to always check the tides (and indeed the weather) before you go. The last thing you want is to get yourself cut off anywhere, especially with small children in tow. Ormering tides are particularly low and can make for exciting rock pooling so it’s worth checking them out too.

Our all time favourite place to go rock pooling is Pêtils Bay, just past Bordeaux Harbour. At low tide there’s a wealth of habitat to uncover, from a variety of star fish and brightly coloured anemones, to worm pipefish, crabs, and rock goby fish. Another firm favourite in the IslandFamilies house is the west coast at low tide. Port Soif offers so many hiding places you just wouldn’t know were there otherwise. And there are quieter spots that often get overlooked but are every bit as rewarding. Moulin Huet with its clear water, is perfect for more explorations. Just be conscious of accessibility if you’re taking youngsters.

I can’t help but feel that teaching our children how to respect the environment is a vital part of growing up on such a beautiful island. Reminding them to be considerate with how they treat the delicate habitats and showing them how to place rocks back as they were. As the age old saying goes, leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photos (and great childhood memories).

Sea glass

There’s something a little magical about hunting for sea glass on the beach, and it’s a pastime enjoyed by youngsters in Guernsey for years. Tumbled and weathered by the waves for years, sea glass comes to be as bottles and glass that find their way into the oceans are worn down into colourful jewels, which are then scattered across the sand for little treasure hunters. I guess you could say it’s glass that’s been recycled by the waves.

You want to look for pieces with soft, frosted texture (not the shiny stuff) and rounded edges. Colours beyond the usual green and brown are most sought after, so anything blue, lilac, and red are rare treasures and definitely worth boasting about.

One of our favourite spots to go hunting is Le Picquerel. On the northwest coast lies an underrated little beach in Grande Havre Bay. You can park by L’Islet Common and make your way down on to the rocky part of Le Picquerel where searching can commence. You want to search the patches in between the rocks – there’s not loads but it’s worth hunting for.


There’s also plenty of treasure alongside Castle Cornet and you can watch the boats come and go as you hunt. Head along Castle Emplacement and go down the steps to the left as you walk towards the castle, the bay is just behind the Yacht Club. And finally, if you’re lucky enough to be in Herm and fancy a little hunting, a great spot for sea glass is Fisherman’s Beach on the west coast.

Foraging

As the tide comes in and out, it presents a variety of edible seaweeds that are gaining popularity, and apparently there’s over 700 types in our seas to try. Chef James Strawbridge once told the BBC that “it’s all edible, there’s no such thing as a dangerous seaweed, so anything you find out there, you can eat. Some of it won’t taste very nice, some of it will taste amazing.” So why not see how many you can find?

Or have the kids seek out some wild rock samphire – a fleshy plant with yellow flowers, primarily found on the coast clinging to rock faces, sea walls, and cliff edges where it receives salt spray. In the past it was prized for pickling (some called it sea fennel) and is also used for salads.

Whilst ormer tides are great for rock pooling, they’re obviously best for harvesting this local delicacy. Many kids love to go ormering – I myself remember going with my parents and grandfather as a youngster – but as thgey’re a protected species, it’s imperative you check the ormering tides and know the rules for collecting them. An alternative would be limpets, which apparently can be cooked in a stew or flattened and stir fried.

Children are often more likely to try something new id they’ve helped gather it so why not head out and find your own treasures to see what you can cook with? I’m not convinced I’d get my lot to try limpets though!

If you’d rather be led by an expert altogether, Wild Guernsey offers family orientated workshops where you can discover the best wild harvests that nature has to offer, either from the hedgerows or the seashore. Or try Guernsey Seaweed offers Foraging Tours where knowledgeable guides provide fascinating and informative hands-on experience, learning all about the history, uses, and benefits of seaweed in Guernsey. One child under 15 can attend for free with each paying adult.

Enjoying spring in Guernsey is a beautiful reminder that we’re lucky to live somewhere where nature is quite literally on our doorstep, and the beach is never far away. So whether you’re collecting sea glass treasures, crouching over a rock pool, or sniffing out wild garlic along the lanes, now is the time to slow down and enjoy it with the kids.