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| UK weather: ancient forests exposed by storms along the coast of Cornwall | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The recent storms that battered the west of England they have given a glimpse into the past of the Cornish coastline, by revealing the stunning remains of ancient forests. | The recent storms that battered the west of England they have given a glimpse into the past of the Cornish coastline, by revealing the stunning remains of ancient forests. |
| After the heavy winds and rain shifted huge swathes of beach sand and shingle on the shore, so-called “submerged forests” appeared. | After the heavy winds and rain shifted huge swathes of beach sand and shingle on the shore, so-called “submerged forests” appeared. |
| Large trunks of oak, beech and pine in peat beds are now visible near Penzance in Mount's Bay. | Large trunks of oak, beech and pine in peat beds are now visible near Penzance in Mount's Bay. |
| For centuries, experts had known that the forests existed, but they are rarely exposed as they are now on Portreath beach and in Daymer Bay. | For centuries, experts had known that the forests existed, but they are rarely exposed as they are now on Portreath beach and in Daymer Bay. |
| Using radiocarbon dating on the peat beds, geologists believe extensive forests extended across Mount's Bay between 4,000 and 6,000 years ago when hunter gatherers were giving way to farming communities. | Using radiocarbon dating on the peat beds, geologists believe extensive forests extended across Mount's Bay between 4,000 and 6,000 years ago when hunter gatherers were giving way to farming communities. |
| A rooted tree trunk exposed in peaty soil on the beach at Daymer Bay, north Cornwall. Frank Howie, Cornwall Wildlife Trustee and chair of the county's Geoconservation Group, said: “The forest bed at Wherry Town on the west side of Penzance has not been exposed to this extent for 40 years or more. | A rooted tree trunk exposed in peaty soil on the beach at Daymer Bay, north Cornwall. Frank Howie, Cornwall Wildlife Trustee and chair of the county's Geoconservation Group, said: “The forest bed at Wherry Town on the west side of Penzance has not been exposed to this extent for 40 years or more. |
| “At Chyandour to the east of Penzance rooted stumps are exposed in situ in peaty soils and massive trunks have been washed out onto the rocky foreshore. | “At Chyandour to the east of Penzance rooted stumps are exposed in situ in peaty soils and massive trunks have been washed out onto the rocky foreshore. |
| "These forests were growing four or five thousand years when climate was slightly warmer than today. | "These forests were growing four or five thousand years when climate was slightly warmer than today. |
| “They were not flooded at the end of the last ice age which happened around 12,000 years ago.” | “They were not flooded at the end of the last ice age which happened around 12,000 years ago.” |
| Submerged forests are evidence of changes in the bay as sea level has risen since the end of the last glaciation, he added. | Submerged forests are evidence of changes in the bay as sea level has risen since the end of the last glaciation, he added. |
| The Mount's Bay forest bed is one of the 117 County Geology Sites monitored and managed by the Cornwall Geoconservation Group in conjunction with the Trust and its volunteers. | The Mount's Bay forest bed is one of the 117 County Geology Sites monitored and managed by the Cornwall Geoconservation Group in conjunction with the Trust and its volunteers. |
| Thanks David Gray for photos of Porth Neigwl's submerged forest exposed in the storm. Let us know what else appears! pic.twitter.com/C8YoJ0xPyn | |
| "The storms have revealed two to five metre trunks of pine and oak as well as the remains of hazel thickets with well-preserved cob nuts and acorns washed out by streams running across the beach. | "The storms have revealed two to five metre trunks of pine and oak as well as the remains of hazel thickets with well-preserved cob nuts and acorns washed out by streams running across the beach. |
| Dave Fenwick, local wildlife photographer and marine recorder, added: "The tree stumps and trunks now exposed illustrate merged biodiversity and geodiversity with colonies of recent and sub-fossil wood boring molluscs, some now rare in Cornwall.” | Dave Fenwick, local wildlife photographer and marine recorder, added: "The tree stumps and trunks now exposed illustrate merged biodiversity and geodiversity with colonies of recent and sub-fossil wood boring molluscs, some now rare in Cornwall.” |
| Evidence of ancient trees have been exposed on a beach at Penzance in Cornwall. #submarineforest #geology pic.twitter.com/LUJmH7NC7w | Evidence of ancient trees have been exposed on a beach at Penzance in Cornwall. #submarineforest #geology pic.twitter.com/LUJmH7NC7w |
| Several rooted tree stumps, as well as Neolithic shell middens and fossil soils containing snails - some rare or extinct in Cornwall - have also been uncovered. | Several rooted tree stumps, as well as Neolithic shell middens and fossil soils containing snails - some rare or extinct in Cornwall - have also been uncovered. |
| However, it is expected the exposed forests will soon be covered once more with sand deposits over the next few months. | However, it is expected the exposed forests will soon be covered once more with sand deposits over the next few months. |
| Mr Howie added that the sites are “all very fragile” and could be damaged by further storms or trampling by onlookers. | Mr Howie added that the sites are “all very fragile” and could be damaged by further storms or trampling by onlookers. |
| He appealed for anyone with photographs of other exposed coasts to contact him by emailing fmp-howiemsn.com. | He appealed for anyone with photographs of other exposed coasts to contact him by emailing fmp-howiemsn.com. |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |