St Mary's Lighthouse, Whitley Bay

St Mary's lighthouse is an iconic structure which stands on a small island, accessible at low tide, in the northern town of Whitley Bay. Once manned, the island is now the home of numerous forms of wildlife, including seals and a variety of bird species. This view of it is unusual, as it is normally photographed from the other side . As you can sea, the rocks in the foreground are uncovered; this was due to an unusually low tide- a more frequent event since the effects of climate change began to be felt.

St Marys has a special place in my heart; I was born not far from here in the small village of Cullercoats. Walks and outings to the island, were a feature of my childhood.