Big buoys

Beaches at low tide are magical places. Sandy, boggy, shingly or muddy, they turn up all manor of treasures, well, sort of. One of my favourites are boat buoys. An array of colours, sizes, shapes and materials, they have escaped a life of servitude to bob in on the tide, unheard and mostly unseen.

Finding these gems brings countries on the other side of the planet closer to home, Japan being the furthest. Most of my finds are retired now, making garden ornaments and conversation pieces.

You can find them all along the Kent and Sussex coast, the beaches both sides of the Cuckmere Haven being good search spots.