Responding to Coastal Weather - The Wind
As my research has developed, I have begun to think about the role of the wind alongside the cyclical rhythms of the salt marsh. Living on the Fylde coast, the wind is an almost constant presence. It is invisible yet always evident in its effects, shaping the landscape, the tides, the movement of grasses and the experience of being outdoors.
Unlike the predictable return of the seasons, the wind introduces an element of uncertainty. It can be gentle and restorative, clearing the mind and bringing a sense of renewal. It provides energy, carrying sailing boats across the estuary and historically turning the blades of windmills. At other times it becomes a force of disruption, bringing storms, erosion and a reminder of the power of nature beyond human control.
This duality sits alongside my interest in ritual and connection between generations. Rituals offer continuity and a means of maintaining relationships with people and place, while the wind reminds us that these relationships are constantly evolving and can be subject to unexpected change. The wind carries memories, changes landscapes and connects distant places, becoming a metaphor for the unseen forces that shape our lives and our identities.
The Japanese concept of ichi-go ichi-e—treasuring each encounter as unique and never to be repeated—also resonates with this idea. Just as no two moments of wind across the salt marsh are ever the same, every meeting with family, friends and landscape is shaped by the conditions of that particular moment. The wind becomes both a physical presence and a symbol of impermanence, change and connection, reinforcing my belief that place, ritual and relationships are continually remade through repeated encounters.
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