Also known by some as ‘Mortimer’s’ or Scoble Reef!

In 1987 the Batson Creek channel up to the main slipways was dredged to allow all tide access for local fishing boats. The 16000m3 of thick mud that was excavated was dumped into what was then the licensed dump site, off Scoble Point. This completely smothered much of the environmentally rich underwater cliff and boulder slope. Despite strong tidal currents, the dredge spoil has never eroded away and the rich ecosystems of Scoble Point are probably lost forever.

However, in 1999 the possibility of re-creating at least some of the habitat became a reality. After securing the necessary funding, the licenses and permissions, and having sourced large granite blocks together with a Royal Marines landing-craft from HMS Fearless for transport, we were able to drop the blocks, block by block in May 2000 to create an artificil reef. The project was finally completed in October 2002.

The recruitment of wildlife to the artificial reef has exceeded all expectations – within days the reef was covered by a hydroid turf (a moss-like growth of animals called sea-firs). A squid had laid her eggs on a block and crabs and fish had taken up residence in the cavities between the blocks!

Today, the blocks are so covered by life that the blocks themselves are no longer visible, this is typical of all underwater rock, and the only species still missing from the reef are the Devonshire cup-coral … but tomorrow, you never know!