If, when you get near to ground zero, you are only able to see the sea in front of you, and there is no way of getting to ground zero without getting very wet, you will have to come back at another time. For listings of the tide times, please try http://www.tidetimes.org.uk/eastbourne-tide-times
However, if you are at ground zero at low tide, you will see an exposed 'strip' of rock that extends to the South West towards Beachy Head, that is unlike any of the other geology in the area. These rock formations are amongst the oldest rocks that can be found at Eastbourne, and are gault clays and greensands. They are from the middle to lower Cretaceous and are approximately 103 million years old.
The gault clay and greensand represent a moderately deep sea that shallowed slightly and then deepened so that chalk sediments were deposited (and at first being mixed with the gault clay and greensand forming a rock known as the glauconitic marls). This process occurred between 100 and 98 million years ago.
Since this Earthcache requires you to visit some potentially slippery rocks, I would urge you to be very careful when visiting. Also, please take great care so as not to damage anything whilst you are exploring.
In order to claim this cache, please send me a message with your answers to the following questions:
1. If you imagine the strip of exposed rock as a long rectangle, approximately how wide would you say that the strip is that you are standing on?
2. Describe the differences between the rock that you are standing on and the pebbles that are found on the beach.
3. Depending on when you find this Earthcache (both during the day and in different seasons) you will see more or less of the rock exposed. When you were there, how far would you estimate that the 'strip' of exposed rock extended? i.e. how long is the rectangle?
Hopefully that makes sense!
Also, please post a photo of yourself on the rocks with your log, although this is not a requirement for claiming the cache.
This Earthcache is placed in a SSSI with the kind permission of Natural England.
Congratulations to Vimmes for being the First To Find.