‘Crabs and Crocks’ saw more than 80 islanders disperse across the uncovered rocks and weeds hunting for signs of life and broken crockery, with buckets and fishing nets at the ready.
The popular family event combines two of La Societe’s many sections, offering a glimpse into the island’s archaeological past while exploring the local marine biodiversity.
Experts from La Societe were on hand to help identify finds.
Helping with the ‘crocks’ was La Societe archaeology secretary Tanya Walls.
‘You can find some really special things here because there are Roman wrecks and medieval wrecks in the harbour,’ she said.
‘What we find is partly to do with the storms and the ferries coming in and out disturbing the seabed.’
Findings included a pre-historic flint flake and medieval pottery pieces.
Helping to spot the ‘crabs’ and other marine life was education officer Sarah Allez who had just been presented with a brown crab.
‘We have such amazing wildlife in Guernsey, and events like this are great for getting people engaged in our environment,’ she said.
Miss Allez explained that the team ‘like to keep an eye’ on what species are present, ensuring that native species are not taken over by non-native species.
‘This is a local crab, but some of the species we’ll find today are probably going to be non-native.
‘They might just be expanding their natural reach because of our waters getting warmer or it could be to do with climate change, we just like to check the types and abundance that we have. It’s a balancing act.’
Enjoying the discovery mission was Nina Heckelmann, with her seven-year-old archaeology enthusiast daughter Audrey Harwood-Jones. Both are La Societe members.
‘We’re so grateful for where we live and imparting that message onto children is really important,’ she said, ‘then they naturally grow up knowing what these things are.’
Ten-year-old Samuel de Jersey and his sister, Martha, 7, were pleased with their father’s starfish discovery.
‘Usually we find little cushion stars,’ said Samuel.
‘But this one is a really big, five-legged one.’
As well as starfish, finds included clams, pipefish, ragworms, ormers and lots of different species of crabs and lobsters.
‘It’s absolutely amazing, I’ve never been down here at this low tide before,’ said Lucie Waylen, whose godson had found a squat lobster.
‘It’s so lovely to see so many people down here and it’s really gorgeous weather to do it in.’
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