Teesmouth Reserve

We went a few miles out of town to visit the National Nature Reserve.  This area is one of the highest concentrated industrial sites in England.  The River Tees is a busy port. Note the ship in the background. However, this coastal reserve covers over 350 hectares and is home to much amazing flora and fauna. We enjoyed walking the trails through the sea grass and sands. We did see flocks of curlew "stalking the pastures alongside the approach road."

There is a steel mill, two oil refineries, and a power station to name a few of the manmade activites in the area.  We actually ran into our neighbors as we were walking. They told us how in their lifetime they had seen the area go from sand dunes and marshes to heavy industry.  They still come to walk the area as they had done in their youth.