A Fascinating Find

B and I met JohnRH & W for a walk through the reserve at RSPB Titchwell this morning.  We saw a variety of birds, including Brent Geese, Golden Plover, Spoonbills, Teal, Marsh Harrier, Oyster Catchers and some very cute Sanderlings (see extra).

We walked along the beach and came across the remains of these two WWII Covenanter Cruise tanks. During the war Titchwell Marsh was used by the Royal Tank Regiment as a tank firing range. The tank regiment used a concrete road that is still part of the reserve today and forms part of the Fen Trail.

These tanks were only used in the UK for home defence and training.  They proved not to be suitable for use abroad due to an overheating issue. According to the Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset, this was arguably the worst tank ever brought into production in Britain, which is probably why they were used for target practice.