While driving North on the way to Lincolnshire , I could see the sky getting clearer and clearer, the moon shining brightly. It was starting to look like we'd be lucky with the weather again this year. We were to be staying at Westfield Farm Cottages, the same place as last year. These old stable buildings have been lovingly renovated by the owners and are very comfortable and beautifully decorated. We unloaded all our gear and had a few drinks before heading off to bed.
On Saturday morning, we enjoyed a leisurely cooked breakfast before heading to Donna Nook. The weather was clear and cold with blue skies, although a bit windy. After getting all our extra bits like hats and gloves on, we had a short look at the ‘nursery' area of the beach… this is a fenced-off area that's easily accessible from the car-park, and that most people go to. There were quite a few mums and newly-born pups there, but we wanted to get up closer.
After a short trek across the mudflats, we were at the main beach where hundreds of seals were spread out over quite a distance. The wind was howling, and sand was being blown along at high speed, making it look almost misty at shin level. Some mothers with new-borns got a bit stressed when people were within several metres of them, so they were best left alone. Most of the seals are fairly unafraid of humans though and it was very easy to get quite close to observe their behaviour and take photos.
Quite a few of the females had a large male nearby. I thought it was lovely that they were hanging around in ‘family groups'. …then I realised that the males were just hanging around for sex! The females suckle the pups for about 18 days, during which time the pups triple their weight and the cows (which don't feed during this time) lose about 10lbs per day. After that time, the cows abandon the pups to fend for themselves, and to mate again.
Mother and Baby - Photo by Jen Harris
Seal at Donna Nook - Photo by Gary Box
Some of the pups that are getting old enough to leave mum are complete show-offs and seem to love having people look at them and speak to them. A few times, when one of us would crouch down to take a ground-level photo, the pup would start moving towards us like a fluffy, white slug. They'd fix their huge, liquid eyes on you, and seem to beg to be taken home as a pet… or maybe that was my imagination saying that!
Circus Performer - Photo by Jen Harris
After a few hours with these gorgeous little creatures, we were starting to freeze and a hot drink sounded like heaven. So off we went to the cars to head back to our comfy cottages.
That night, we had a great meal mostly organised by Rachel and Krasimir, and enjoyed a few cocktails (this seems to be becoming a habit on these weekends!). Most of us drank and chatted into the early hours, and had a very social night.
We compared our photos, laughing at the antics of the adorable seal pups. Andrew & Sian had shot the most gorgeous video of a mother giving her content pup a light scratch with her flipper… she kept it up for quite a while, the pup clearly loving it. It was such a lovely display of the close bond between them.
After another leisurely breakfast and clean-up of the cottages on Sunday morning, we drove into Lincoln to see the Cathedral. Lincoln Cathedral was originally built nearly 1000 years ago, and has since undergone various extensions and has had to be heavily repaired at different times due to fire, earthquake and general deterioration. We all spent quite a while in the ornate interior, in awe of the sheer size of it.
Lincoln Cathedral - Photo by Gary Box
Inside Lincoln Cathedral - Photo by Gary Box
After that, we were all ready for a pub lunch of course! We luckily found a pub that could seat all of us together and enjoyed a good feed before heading back to London .
Article submitted by Jen Harris
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