New island developing off the coast of Fleetwood, NW England

[Chad]

My mum and her partner who go for walks in the area noticed it's appearance and it's also been in the news. For me it's also interesting because right now there's no explanation; there's no obvious volcanic/tectonic activity in the area to give reason for it's appearance, as with those off the coast of India and so on, but then again it could be something related to what's in the brief article: human intervention or lack thereof.

Searching for the article, something quite similar seems to have occurred in Germany in 2013 (link below) - and what is more interesting is the composition: shingle and stone in UK and sandbanks in Germany. So it could be a change in the tides or is something pushing the seabed up? Or it may be something else.

Drone footage of new island near Fleetwood
10/05/16
The new island developing off the coast of Fleetwood [North west coast of England]

Photo:

Stunning aerial footage shows a new island developing off the coast of Fleetwood.

A bank of shingle and stone has emerged from the sea and appears to be a permanent addition to the geography of the area.

Various theories abound as to its origin - ranging from a shift in the natural sediments to the resurfacing of stones from an ancient Roman port.

Phil Hodgson and Joe Helme of Fleetwood-based Vision Air filmed the island using drones after being taken out to the site, around two-and-a-half kilometres off Fleetwood's north shore, by Paul Ashworth of Fleetwood Lifeboat Station.

They carried out a full survey which shows the strip of land is 638 metres long, 10.2 metres high and 3.4 hectares square.

"Even at a normal high tide there is still a land mass visible.

"No-one can say why it is happening. The first thing you do is think about what is changing - the estuary doesn't get dredged any more as there isn't the same shipping traffic going into Fleetwood.

"We also have the wind turbines which have been built. Some people think maybe it is just returning to its natural state. "It is made up of shingle and stone and at the moment there is no vegetation.

"It has grown in quite a short time.

"The last time we did the RNLI wreck treck about three years ago, it wasn't there."

– Phil Hodgson, Vision Air

The Vision Air team, were accredited by the Civil Aviation Authority, to take around 200 photographs of the island during a survey on April 23.

There is a sandbank to the south side, water to the north and it is between 10 and 15 metres at the widest point.

While there is strong interest in the new island, people are being warned not to go out to it.

As for claiming ownership the land is easily within UK territorial waters which stretch to just under 14 miles.
Last updated Tue 10 May 2016

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New island size of 25 football pitches appears off German coast after sandbanks emerge from the North Sea

The landmass, dubbed Bird Island, gradually emerged 15 miles off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein
A total of 49 species of plants have been detected on the island, which is composed of sandbanks

By Allan Hall for MailOnline

Published: 22:12 GMT, 9 January 2013 | Updated: 11:23 GMT, 18 March 2013


An island the size of 25 football pitches has appeared seemingly out of nowhere off the coast of Germany.

The landmass, which is composed of sandbanks, gradually emerged from the violent waters of the North Sea over the past few years.

It lies 15 miles off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany’s far north in a stretch of coastline known as the Wattenmeer, a marine national park.
'Anything but ordinary': The new landmass has been dubbed Bird Island after its first settlers; who include gulls, eider ducks, grey geese and even peregrine falcons


Nature lovers and yachstmen noticed the appearance of Bird Island - named after the seabirds who rest, nest or feed on the sand dunes that are up to 16ft high.

Winds blew seeds from across Europe, and 49 species of plants have been detected on it.

'Who needs an artificial island off the coast of Dubai?' asked the Bild newspaper, Germany’s largest, when the landmass composed of sandbanks grew, and stayed put, in the North Sea.

But before locals reach for the beachtowels and sun loungers, nature might beat them to it.
Landmass: The island, which is composed of sandbanks, has emerged from the waters of the North Sea off the coast of Germany over the past few years

Dunes: Nearly 50 different plant species have been discovered on the island after winds blew seeds from across Europe
new german Island Locator

Martin Stock, a biologist with the National Park Management which oversees the Wattenmeer, said; 'A strong storm flood could wipe the island out overnight. The plants do not have the roots necessary yet to bind the dunes together.'

It is the first time in a quarter of a century that a discernible landmass has appeared in the coastal waters off Germany.

Detlef Hansen, head of the national park, said; 'This is for us conservationists anything but ordinary.'

Tidal actions unrelated to global warming or other earthly phenomena have created the island.

While a boatload of tourists made it to the sands a week ago, they were under strict instructions to keep away from the gulls, grey geese, eider ducks, common ringed plovers and even peregrine falcons that use it.

And, this time at least, none of them was allowed to bring a deckchair.....