Not being raised in a location where shingle (pebble) beaches are common, the idea of pebble collecting was not one of which I became aware until a few years ago, when I happened upon the 2018 re-issue of Clarence Ellis’ classic 1954 book “The Pebbles on the Beach; A Spotter’s Guide.” I was instantly captivated by the past-time’s delightful combination of gentle contemplativeness, potential for surprises, and connection to natural history.
When I find myself in times of trouble
And Mother Mary is ignoring me,
I go seeking words of wisdom
In an anthology.
“It is increasingly widely recognised that nature is good for us. Most of us instinctively know this to be true and the science is gradually getting to grips with how this works; the biochemistry of a visit to the local woods and its impacts on our health and well-being. Science is slowly unravelling the mechanisms by which stress hormone levels drop, beneficial neurotransmitter levels rise and our immune system gets a nudge in the right direction.”