53-734: Severn Beach is a village on the Severn Estuary in South Gloucestershire , England. The eastern portal of the Severn Tunnel is on the outskirts of the village. The Severn footpath – on the sea wall – is part of the Severn Way that leads from Gloucester , Slimbridge and the Second Severn Crossing . Extensive sea defences have been constructed and this provides
106-521: A holiday and pleasure resort ending in the 1970s, many of the shops have also closed; however, the convenience store and Down's Bakery still trade. Severn Beach had a dedicated Post Office at 103 Beach Road but this also closed and a small Post Office is now housed a few doors away at the Morrisons Daily convenience store. The village pub (Severn Salmon, formerly Severn Beach Hotel) was demolished to make way for housing. The Blue Lagoon swimming pool
159-445: A lake of 185 square miles (479 km ) with a potential energy depth of 14 metres (46 ft). Tidal power only runs for around ten hours a day, but by using the enclosed lake as a reservoir of potential energy more hours of operation could be achieved. Other energy sources, such as wind and solar power, also create electricity at times that do not always match when it is needed. Excess power could be stored by pumping water uphill , as
212-628: A long time underwater between breaths. Air is forced from the lungs during a dive and into the upper respiratory passages, where gases cannot easily be absorbed into the bloodstream. This helps protect the seal from the bends . The middle ear is also lined with blood sinuses that inflate during diving, helping to maintain a constant pressure. Phocids are more specialized for aquatic life than otariids. They lack external ears and have sleek, streamlined bodies. Retractable nipples , internal testicles , and an internal penile sheath provide further streamlining. A smooth layer of blubber lies underneath
265-677: A popular walkway along its length. Originally, the Severn Way finished at Severn Beach, but it has been extended to Bristol . The village is part of the Thornbury and Yate parliamentary constituency and is represented by the Liberal Democrat MP, Claire Young . Before the Great Western Railway arrived in 1900, the area was farmland. In 1922, the village became a seaside resort with a swimming pool called
318-439: A short period. This allows the mother to return to the sea in time to replenish her reserves. Lactation ranges from five to seven weeks in the monk seal to just three to five days in the hooded seal . The mother ends nursing by leaving her pup at the breeding site to search for food (pups continue to nurse if given the opportunity). "Milk stealers" that suckle from unrelated, sleeping females are not uncommon; this often results in
371-595: Is To bring together all those involved in the development, management and use of the Estuary within a framework which encourages the integration of their interests and responsibilities to achieve common objectives . In 2001 SEP published the Strategy for the Severn Estuary , which sets out a plan for the management of the estuary. SEP uses a geographically extended definition of the Severn Estuary, beginning at
424-567: Is 36 minutes. The village is close to the A403 road that runs from junction 1 of the M48 motorway at Aust to the docks at Avonmouth. Severn Beach with substantial development at Western Approach and new energy recovery centres on the main Severn Road (A403), is now a very busy area with heavy traffic which will be somewhat relieved of congestion when the new M49 junction at Farm Lane (located to
477-424: Is a small rocky island of 0.24 hectares (0.6 acres), with scrub vegetation, approximately three miles north of Portishead. Its rocky southern foreshore marks the boundary between England and Wales, but the island itself is reckoned administratively to Monmouthshire , Wales. The estuary is about 2 miles (3.2 km) wide at Aust, and about 9 miles (14 km) wide between Cardiff and Weston-super-Mare. It has one of
530-602: Is already done at a variety of other installations in the UK. The UK Government shelved the plans in the late 1980s due largely to cost issues and local environmental concerns. However, this was before recent huge rises in the price of energy, and before global warming had started to be taken seriously. In April 2006 the Welsh Assembly approved the idea of utilising the tidal power, but the RSPB has raised serious concerns about
583-577: Is designated as a Ramsar site . The estuary is recognised as a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EC Directive on the conservation of Wild Birds. The estuary is recognised as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive. Parts of the estuary have also been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest . The SSSI includes most of the foreshore upstream from Cardiff and Brean Down and most of
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#1732776619005636-713: Is provided by Severn Beach Primary School at Ableton Lane, Severn Beach. There are no senior schools in Severn Beach. Severn Estuary The Severn Estuary ( Welsh : Aber Hafren ) is the estuary of the River Severn , flowing into the Bristol Channel between South West England (from North Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire) and South Wales (from Cardiff, Newport to Monmouthshire). Its very high tidal range , approximately 50 feet (15 m), creates valuable intertidal habitats and has led to
689-618: Is the international importance for wintering and wading birds of passage, and of estuarine habits of outstanding ornithological significance. It is stated that the estuary supports over 10% of the British wintering population and is the single most important wintering ground for dunlin , and for significant numbers of Bewick's swans , European white-fronted geese and wigeon . Nationally important wintering populations are supported such as gadwall , shoveller and pochard . There are notably seven species of migratory fish which pass through
742-658: The International Hydrographic Organization places the boundary between the estuary and the open sea of the Bristol Channel at a line between Sand Point, North Somerset (north of Weston-super-Mare ) and Lavernock Point (south of Penarth in south Wales), at which point it is over 8 miles (13 km) wide. This definition is used by the Severn Estuary Partnership and Visit England. A narrower definition adopted for navigation purposes by some charts includes only
795-518: The Mouth of the Severn . The tidal range results in the estuary having one of the most extensive intertidal wildlife habitats in the UK, comprising mudflats, sandflats, rocky platforms and islands. These form a basis for plant and animal communities typical of extreme physical conditions of liquid mud and tide-swept sand and rock. The estuary is recognised as a wetland area of international importance and
848-595: The River Avon joins at Avonmouth . West of the Wye, the estuary forms the boundary between Wales and England . On the northern side of the estuary are the Caldicot and Wentloog Levels which are on either side of the city of Newport ; and, to the west, the city of Cardiff together with the resort of Penarth . On the southern, English, side, are Avonmouth , Portishead , Clevedon , and Weston-super-Mare. Denny Island
901-1018: The mustelids and bears . Monk seals and elephant seals were previously believed to have first entered the Pacific through the open straits between North and South America, with the Antarctic true seals either using the same route or travelled down the west coast of Africa. It is now thought that the monk seals , elephant seals , and Antarctic seals all evolved in the southern hemisphere, and likely dispersed to their current distributions from more southern latitudes. Bearded seal Hooded seal Ringed seal Baikal seal Caspian seal Spotted seal Harbor seal Grey seal Ribbon seal Harp seal Weddell seal Leopard seal Crabeater seal Ross seal Southern elephant seal Northern elephant seal Mediterranean monk seal Hawaiian monk seal Caribbean monk seal Otariidae ( eared seals ) Odobenidae ( Walrus ) In
954-480: The pelvis in such a way that they cannot bring them under their bodies to walk on them. They are more streamlined than fur seals and sea lions, so they can swim more effectively over long distances. However, because they cannot turn their hind flippers downward, they are very clumsy on land, having to wriggle with their front flippers and abdominal muscles . Phocid respiratory and circulatory systems are adapted to allow diving to considerable depths, and they can spend
1007-459: The tribe Lobodontini . Tribe Miroungini is composed of the elephant seals . The Monk seals ( Monachus and Neomonachus ) are all part of the tribe Monachini. Likewise, subfamily Phocinae (the "northern" seals) also includes three tribes; Erignathini ( Erignathus ) , Cystophorini ( Cystophora) , and Phocini (all other phocines). More recently, five species have been split off from Phoca , forming three additional genera. Alternatively
1060-401: The "Blue Lagoon", a boating lake, dozens of fun-fair stalls, donkey rides (on grass), mostly by local entrepreneur Robert Stride. Many people came from nearby Bristol because Severn Beach had less strict licensing laws. The Beach Comber club appeared in the 1960s Robert Charles Barton Stride 1894–1970, son of Albert and Alice Stride. Albert's father George was the brother of Edmund Stride who
1113-571: The 1980s and 1990s, morphological phylogenetic analysis of the phocids led to new conclusions about the interrelatedness of the various genera. More recent molecular phylogenetic analyses have confirmed the monophyly of the two phocid subfamilies ( Phocinae and Monachinae). The Monachinae (known as the "southern" seals), is composed of three tribes; the Lobodontini, Miroungini, and Monachini. The four Antarctic genera Hydrurga , Leptonychotes , Lobodon , and Ommatophoca are part of
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#17327766190051166-478: The English side is available to view and download from the reference link. Earless seal The earless seals , phocids , or true seals are one of the three main groups of mammals within the seal lineage, Pinnipedia . All true seals are members of the family Phocidae ( / ˈ f oʊ s ɪ d iː / ). They are sometimes called crawling seals to distinguish them from the fur seals and sea lions of
1219-631: The Severn Beach area and it is of international importance for migrating and wintering birds. As of 1990, 31 species of seabird had been recorded in the Severn Beach/ New Passage area, including 3 Petrel species including the first British record of White Bellied/Black Bellied Petrel, 4 species of Diver including Pacific Diver, [ Cory's Shearwater,[Sooty shearwater|sooty]] and Balearic shearwaters , all four Northern Hemisphere skuas , seven species of tern and five species of alcid . Severn Beach offers excellent conger fishing from
1272-593: The Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel a focus for tidal energy schemes and ideas. Plans for a Severn Barrage — running 16 km (9.9 mi) across the Bristol Channel from Lavernock Point near to and south west of Cardiff to Brean Down near and just south west of Weston-super-Mare in Somerset — would generate a massive 8640 MW when the tide flows, and have been discussed for several decades now. The power generated would come from
1325-465: The UK's electricity, contributing significantly to UK climate change goals. The proposal for a hydro-electric barrier to generate 8.6 GW and meet five percent of Britain's power needs, is being opposed by some environmental groups. The Severn Estuary Partnership (SEP) was set up in 1995 as an independent initiative to focus the activities of local government, statutory authorities and interested parties such as farmers and fisherman. Its stated aim
1378-788: The area being at the centre of discussions in the UK regarding renewable tidal energy. Definitions of the limits of the Severn Estuary vary. In pre-modern times the area was commonly referred to as the River Severn, or the Severn Sea. Today, at the upstream boundary, the normal tidal limit of the river is at Maisemore weir (on the West Channel) and Llanthony Weir (on the East Channel), close to Gloucester Docks , although exceptionally high tides can overtop these weirs. Downstream,
1431-461: The area downstream of the Second Severn Crossing near Severn Beach , South Gloucestershire . The definition used on Admiralty Chart SC1179 and the Bristol Channel and Severn Cruising Guide is that the estuary extends upstream to Aust , the site of the Severn Bridge . On the north-west (Welsh) side, the rivers Wye and Usk flow into the estuary, and on the south-east (English) side,
1484-411: The breeding site to use their stored energy to nurse pups. However, the common seal displays a reproductive strategy similar to that used by otariids , in which the mother makes short foraging trips between nursing bouts. Because a phocid mother's feeding grounds are often hundreds of kilometers from the breeding site, she must fast while lactating . This combination of fasting with lactation requires
1537-644: The completion of the Second Severn Crossing at the end of Shaft Road, off Green Lane. Run by the Severn Bridges Trust and housing an exhibition showing the history of the river crossings using interactive displays, video films, pictures, models and descriptions, it closed in 2008. The coastline at Severn Beach is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a diverse range of wildlife, varying from seals to peregrine falcons . There have been more than 281 species of bird recorded in
1590-489: The death of the mother's pup, since a female can only feed one pup. The pup's diet is so high in calories that it builds up a fat store. Before the pup is ready to forage, the mother abandons it, and the pup consumes its own fat for weeks or even months while it matures. Seals, like all marine mammals, need time to develop the oxygen stores, swimming muscles, and neural pathways necessary for effective diving and foraging. Seal pups typically eat no food and drink no water during
1643-426: The effect on the mud flats, that have European Environmental protection status, and the UK government Energy Review published later in the year did not endorse the scheme. Opinion is still divided on the benefits of a proposed barrage. John Hutton , Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform , announced a further feasibility study on 25 September 2007. The Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study
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1696-481: The estuary in both directions. These include significant numbers of Atlantic salmon and common eel . At Black Rock, Portskewett , a traditional method of fishing for salmon with lave nets is practised. The fishermen promote the fishery as a tourist attraction. In 2021, they reduced their activities in response to pressure from Natural Resources Wales to reduce their catch. A huge tidal range and high level of surrounding industry and population have long made
1749-408: The estuary is under threat from natural processes such as coastal erosion , exacerbated by the high tidal range and strong tidal currents, and from threats such as ongoing development pressure along the shoreline, marine aggregates extraction and new coastal defensive and realignment measures as well as proposed major infrastructure projects. An archaeological aerial survey report of the archaeology on
1802-451: The family Otariidae . Seals live in the oceans of both hemispheres and, with the exception of the more tropical monk seals , are mostly confined to polar , subpolar, and temperate climates. The Baikal seal is the only species of exclusively freshwater seal . The earliest known fossil earless seal is Noriphoca gaudini from the late Oligocene or earliest Miocene ( Aquitanian ) of Italy . Other early fossil phocids date from
1855-475: The highest tidal ranges in the world — about 50 feet (15 m). This funnel shape, large tidal range, and the underlying geology of rock, gravel and sand, produce strong tidal streams and high turbidity , giving the water a notably brown coloration. During the highest tides, rising water is funnelled up the estuary into the Severn bore , a self-reinforcing solitary wave that travels rapidly upstream against
1908-623: The major part of a larger area which includes the Taff / Ely Estuary and Bridgwater Bay (as well as the Upper Severn Estuary) The Upper Severn Estuary SSSI designation involves the English county of Gloucestershire. The site (Severn Estuary and Upper Severn Estuary) is listed in the 'Forest of Dean Local Plan Review' as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS). Both SSSI citations provide detail of the geological and biological interest and of particular note
1961-436: The mid-Miocene, 15 million years ago in the north Atlantic. Until recently, many researchers believed that phocids evolved separately from otariids and odobenids ; and that they evolved from otter -like animals, such as Potamotherium , which inhabited European freshwater lakes. Recent evidence strongly suggests a monophyletic origin for all pinnipeds from a single ancestor, possibly Enaliarctos , most closely related to
2014-480: The mother to provide large amounts of energy to her pup at a time when she is not eating (and often, not drinking). Mothers must supply their own metabolic needs while nursing. This is a miniature version of the humpback whales ' strategy, which involves fasting during their months-long migration from arctic feeding areas to tropical breeding/nursing areas and back. Phocids produce thick, fat-rich milk that allows them to provide their pups with large amounts of energy in
2067-733: The order Carnivora . Phocids have fewer teeth than land-based members of the Carnivora , although they retain powerful canines . Some species lack molars altogether. The dental formula is: 2–3.1.4.0–2 1–2.1.4.0–2 While otariids are known for speed and maneuverability, phocids are known for efficient, economical movement. This allows most phocids to forage far from land to exploit prey resources, while otariids are tied to rich upwelling zones close to breeding sites. Phocids swim by sideways movements of their bodies, using their hind flippers to fullest effect. Their fore flippers are used primarily for steering, while their hind flippers are bound to
2120-523: The period, although some polar species eat snow. The postweaning fast ranges from two weeks in the hooded seal to 9–12 weeks in the northern elephant seal. The physiological and behavioral adaptations that allow phocid pups to endure these remarkable fasts, which are among the longest for any mammal, remain an area of active study and research. Phocids make use of at least four different feeding strategies: suction feeding, grip and tear feeding, filter feeding, and pierce feeding. Each of these feeding strategies
2173-479: The river current. West of the line between Lavernock Point and Sand Point is the Bristol Channel , which in turn discharges into the Celtic Sea and the wider Atlantic Ocean . The islands of Steep Holm and Flat Holm are located close to that line, in the middle of the estuary. The Ordnance Survey refers on its published mapping to a section of the estuary seaward of the two estuarine motorway crossings as
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2226-401: The sea defence known as Sea Wall Gardens. Public toilets that were built on Beach Road during its heyday as a pleasure resort are still there but are locked overnight. A new sea front Tea Cottage opened in 2018 on the site of the old Burger Bar and its associated children's fun rides. Shirley's Cafe also remains open on Station Road. The Severn Bridges Visitor Centre was opened in 1998 following
2279-645: The shore in the winter. The village is at the terminus of the Severn Beach line railway, with a small unstaffed station . The line used to loop northwards to join the main Cardiff to Bristol line at Pilning railway station in the direction of Bristol, but this section was closed in 1964 and the trackbed has been built over. Train services are operated by Great Western Railway ; 11 trains per weekday with an average journey time between Severn Beach and Bristol Temple Meads of 41 minutes. The fastest journey time
2332-432: The skin. Phocids are able to divert blood flow to this layer to help control their temperatures. Unlike otariids, true seals do not communicate by 'barking'. Instead, they communicate by slapping the water and grunting. Phocids spend most of their time at sea, although they return to land or pack ice to breed and give birth. Pregnant females spend long periods foraging at sea, building up fat reserves, and then return to
2385-643: The south of the Western Approach Distribution Park and west of the village of Easter Compton) is opened. This was expected to open in late 2019/early 2020 but legal disputes have delayed this opening. The village is currently once again served by buses by Stagecoach West going via Pilning, Easter Compton , Cribbs Causeway , Little Stoke , Bristol Parkway station to the University of the West of England Campus. Primary education
2438-400: The three monachine tribes have been evaluated to familiar status, which elephant seals and the Antarctic seals are more closely related to the phocines. Adult phocids vary from 1.17 m (3.8 ft) in length and 45 kg (99 lb) in weight in the ringed seal to 5.8 m (19 ft) and 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) in the southern elephant seal , which is the largest member of
2491-525: The tidal limit of the River Severn in Gloucester and ending at a line drawn between Hurlestone Point near Minehead and Nash Point in the Vale of Glamorgan . The archaeology of the Severn Estuary is richly varied and of considerable importance, reflecting both the varied nature of the topography and the importance of the river for both fishing and as a maritime waterway. The archaeological resource within
2544-841: The upper estuary as far as Sharpness . The Upper Severn Estuary SSSI covers the tidal river between Purton and Frampton on Severn . The Severn Estuary SSSI original designation involves the then counties of Somerset, Avon and Gloucestershire in England, and Gwent and South Glamorgan in Wales. The Severn Estuary SSSI designation overlaps individual site designations for separate sites in Avon ( Spring Cove Cliffs , Middle Hope , Portishead Pier to Black Nore , Aust Cliff ), Gloucestershire ( Purton Passage ) and South Glamorgan ( Penarth Coast ). The 1976 designation includes two sites previously notified in 1952 ( Brean Down and Uphill Cliff ). The SSSI forms
2597-590: Was a builder by trade. After the war ended he resumed trading. With the opening of the rail link from Avonmouth in 1924 Robert Stride moved his operations from his house in Station Road, Shirehampton, to Severn Beach, and built a restaurant and six shops opposite the tennis courts. He bought up surplus material from the remount depot in Shirehampton which had closed at the end of the war. He re-used much of this in his buildings at Severn Beach. The swimming pool
2650-618: Was built by Robert and he also built Osborne Road, Beach Road and Beach Avenue, laying out a putting green, boating lake and miniature railway. During the 1930s he installed electricity for all. He was Parish Councillor for 26 years between 1937 and 1964. His family were staunch Methodists and were involved with the Methodist church in Shirehampton. His brother Horatio was a keen supporter of Toc H . Robert's daughter (Mrs Turner) taught at Severn Beach Primary School (in Pilning). With its era as
2703-479: Was demolished in the 1980s in favour of creating more open space and some housing plus part purchased by Northavon District Council to act as a sea defence when over-topping occurs from the River Severn. It was during this time that all the railway station buildings were demolished to make way for new housing leaving just the platform. The station is now unmanned, with a ticket machine on the platform. The boating lake has been filled in and landscaped and now forms part of
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#17327766190052756-578: Was involved in the construction of Avonmouth docks and housing. His sons Jared and Jethro Stride were the original ‘Stride Brothers’ who built one-off luxury houses in Sneyd Park, Bristol. Robert lived next door to his cousins Jared and Jethro in Shirehampton. Robert enlisted in WW1 and was a driver, driving a range of vehicles including ambulances. Like many other Strides in Shirehampton Robert
2809-484: Was launched in January 2008 to assess all tidal range technologies (including barrages, lagoons and others). The study will look at the costs, benefits and impacts of a Severn tidal power scheme and will help Government decide whether it could or could not support such a scheme. The Severn Estuary has the potential to generate more renewable electricity than all other UK estuaries. If harnessed, it could create up to 5% of
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