09/02/2026
This photo is a throw back to sunnier days on Slapton Sands, a throw back to a time before the Start Bay, Slapton and Torcross didn’t feel like a coast under pressure.
Start Bay, encompassing Slapton Sands, Torcross and the surrounding South Devon coastline, is a place of deep personal and ecological significance to us. Long before The (Devon) National Seaweed Company existed, this was where Stuart and I spent many of our early days together, walking the shingle, observing tides, learning the rhythms of the sea, and building a relationship shaped by time outdoors. It remains a coastline we return to regularly, both personally and professionally.
In recent months, severe winter storms have caused extensive damage along the Slapton Line and Torcross, with sections of road collapsing into the sea and access routes cut off. These events are not isolated incidents but part of a wider pattern of coastal erosion, climate pressure, and changing marine conditions affecting South Devon and coastlines across the UK.
For those who spend time here, residents, fishers, walkers, artists, and ecologists alike, the impact is felt not just in infrastructure loss, but in the reshaping of habitats that support marine biodiversity, seaweed forests, and intertidal life. Seaweed plays a critical role in coastal ecosystems: stabilising shorelines, providing shelter and food for marine species, and contributing to ocean health and carbon cycling. When coastlines are destabilised, these delicate systems are disrupted.
Our relationship with Start Bay has always been one of attention and care. We practice responsible seaweed foraging that prioritises ecological balance, seasonal awareness, and minimal disturbance. Spending time observing the shore, noticing what has changed, what has disappeared, and what persists, is central to how we understand both the environmental and human impacts of coastal change.
Equally important is the role these landscapes play in human wellbeing. Access to the coast offers space for reflection, creativity, and restoration. Walking familiar beaches, engaging with natural materials, and learning traditional practices like seaweed pressing can foster a sense of grounding and connection, particularly at a time when many coastal communities are facing uncertainty and loss of access.
Through our work, we aim to contribute quietly and meaningfully to conversations around marine ecology, sustainable coastal practices, and community resilience. Start Bay is not just a location; it is a living system, a shared space, and a reminder of the close relationship between environmental health and human life. Our hope is that by paying close attention to places like Slapton and Torcross, we can encourage deeper care for coastlines that are changing before our eyes.
