English: Sefton Coast This view from the viewing platform in the Formby dunes highlights some of the key features of this stretch of coast. The dune geomorphology and ecosystem and its role in protecting against sea-level rise and coastal erosion. Then there's the old guiding beacon once used as a navigational aid by mariners navigating this notoriously difficult entry to the port of Liverpool - this stretch of coast was once home to Britain's first life-boat station. The container ship - 95% of the goods that we consume are brought to our ports by sea. The wind-farm is evidence of the current trend towards renewable energy and our decreasing dependency on north sea gas. And the fact that this area is both part of a National Trust nature reserve and a tourist attraction gives an indication of the conflict between our increasing environmental awareness and the economic dependence of the Sefton Coast on the growth of leisure and tourism since the mid 19th century. - Day beacon