A desert at the coastal edge of Sussex
Max Terry explores the other-wordly landscape of Dungeness
As Britain's only desert, Dungeness is certainly unique. The bare, natural landscape clashes with the man made. The odd shed and rusting ships give a post-apocalyptic feel. The abandoned power station looming over it all makes you wonder what happened here. Each piece of scrap tells a story and the exposed landscape joins each one.
As the landscape transforms from soft sand dunes to rough shingle ones, the mood changes. Houses appear less and less, the foliage slowly becomes darker and is replaced with bare bushes and the odd wildflower. Shipwrecks are submerged in gravel,struggling to stay above the surface.
Seeing it in a picture was one thing but experiencing it was another. The nuclear station engulfed the landscape, it somehow looked both modern and ancient. As we got closer to the station,it sent chills down my spine. The empty car park and silent station were utterly abandoned, only the crashing waves and train could be heard.
We slowed down on the bikes as we approached the station, it was so large we didn't know where to start. We veered to the left and what a contrast. The peaceful sea and shingle beach on the left and the plant on the right.
Shut in 2018, Dungeness nuclear station B has been inactive since. In Britain's only desert it was in a perfect condition. It even benefited the local nature as the warm water ran into rivers and lakes.
This journey has stuck with me ever since, never had I seen such a unique area and two contracting environments.
Max Terry, Year 9
As Britain's only desert, Dungeness is certainly unique. The bare, natural landscape clashes with the man made. The odd shed and rusting ships give a post-apocalyptic feel. The abandoned power station looming over it all makes you wonder what happened here. Each piece of scrap tells a story and the exposed landscape joins each one.
As the landscape transforms from soft sand dunes to rough shingle ones, the mood changes. Houses appear less and less, the foliage slowly becomes darker and is replaced with bare bushes and the odd wildflower. Shipwrecks are submerged in gravel,struggling to stay above the surface.
Seeing it in a picture was one thing but experiencing it was another. The nuclear station engulfed the landscape, it somehow looked both modern and ancient. As we got closer to the station,it sent chills down my spine. The empty car park and silent station were utterly abandoned, only the crashing waves and train could be heard.
We slowed down on the bikes as we approached the station, it was so large we didn't know where to start. We veered to the left and what a contrast. The peaceful sea and shingle beach on the left and the plant on the right.
Shut in 2018, Dungeness nuclear station B has been inactive since. In Britain's only desert it was in a perfect condition. It even benefited the local nature as the warm water ran into rivers and lakes.
This journey has stuck with me ever since, never had I seen such a unique area and two contracting environments.
Max Terry, Year 9