Our first break from Europe

Seaford Head and the other cliffs stretching along the south-east coast were formed between 60million and 130million years ago

The landscape once extended to France, but 8,500 years ago the English Channel broke through, leaving the sheer wall of chalk

The cliffs are made of sedimentary chalk limestone, the remains of marine algae and other animals from millions of years ago

The Seaford cliffs are not entirely made of chalk – there are several, rather conspicuous, bands of flint

Every year about 12 to 16 inches of cliff is nibbled away by erosion

The base of the cliffs are particularly good for wildlife; barnacles, limpets and crabs can be found in rock pools around their base

Sheep are grazed at the top of the Seaford cliffs to keep flora under control