the two sandy bays of St Mildred's Bay and West Bay, which both have a sea wall and groynes to prevent coastal flooding. Chalk cliffs are present in between the bays and either side of the bays. The whole of the northeast Kent coast has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The town lies on the Isle of Thanet, a separate island from mainland Kent until around two hundred years ago, when the channel in between silted up. The geology of Thanet consists mainly of chalk, deposited when the area was below the sea. The Isle of Thanet was formed when the English Channel was formed by the sea breaking through, an island of chalk being left on the east side of the county. It was separated from the rest of Kent by the Wantsum Channel. Climate In East Kent, the warmest time of the year is July and August, when maximum temperatures average around . The coolest time of the year is January and February, when minimum temperatures average around . The average of maximum and minimum temperatures are around 1/2 °C higher than the national average. East Kent's average annual rainfall is about , with October to January being the wettest months, compared with the national average of . These are average temperature and rainfall figures taken between 1971 and 2000 at the Met Office weather station in Wye, around southwest of Westgate-on-Sea: Due to its climate and high grade agricultural soil, Westgate is suitable to growing a range of cereal and vegetables, once farmed by E. S Linington where cauliflower and wheat was mainly grown as well as dairy cattle raised now farmed by Quex Park where wheat, osr, potatoes, maize and beans is grown. With locals holding strong passion for it to remain farmed and not become housing. Currently Somalia farm is a popular coffee shop, organic vegetables are grown at Closes Cottages and dent de loin remains left to nature. These 3 points are popular along the very popular public footpaths. Transport links Westgate-on-Sea railway station is on the Chatham Main Line, which runs between Ramsgate in East Kent and London Victoria. Other stations on this line include Broadstairs, Margate, Herne Bay, Faversham, Gillingham, Rochester and Bromley South. Westgate-on-Sea is around 1 hour and 45 minutes to London by fast-service train. A National Express coach service runs between London Victoria and Ramsgate, and