Beneath the golden sands of Westward Ho! lies a mesmerizing echo of the past—a submerged ancient forrest, preserved within layers of clay and peat. This natural relic dates back thousands of years, to a time when the area was a lush woodland teeming with life. The remnants of trees—oak, hazel, and alder—are locked in the peat, their roots still visible in places, hinting at a sprawling woodland that once stretched where the sea now rules.
The clay and peat bank, dark and earthy in contrast to the bright sand above, reveals itself at low tide but only after storms or big swells, offering a tantalizing glimpse into a prehistoric landscape. Sometimes, fragments of ancient vegetation or even the remains of animals are uncovered, whispering stories of a time long before human memory. The blend of saltwater and time has frozen this ancient ecosystem, creating a striking contrast between the wild, untamed history beneath and the vibrant modernity of the beach above.
A marvel of nature’s preservation, the submerged forest at Westward Ho! is a beautiful reminder of how landscapes shift, adapt, and change over millennia. Have you seen it yourself?
It is enchanting to witness this living history peeking out from beneath the tides when you #visitwestwardho! before disappearing for years once more.