Initially, there was little media interest in the excavation, with it only being reported in archaeological publications like the Council of British Archaeology's "British Archaeology" magazine and a few local Norfolk-based media outlets. This changed on Saturday 9 January 1999, when "The Independent" ran a front-page story by environmental correspondent, Michael McCarthy, headlined "Shifting Sands Reveal 'Stonehenge of the Sea'". "The Independent"'s article sparked articles in rival newspapers, with the "Eastern Daily Press" picking up the story for a two-page feature entitled "Our Stonehenge Beneath the Sea" on Monday 11 January. These stories repeated comparisons to Stonehenge, one of England’s most famous national treasures, despite the many differences between the two sites. Eventually the site gained the popular title of "Seahenge". Soon a great debate began in the media, with some adherents involved in the Neopagan and New Age movements arguing that they had "a kind of spiritual ownership of the circle". They wanted it left in situ and opposed archaeological excavation. Local tourism organisations also wanted it left in situ, as the site was sure to attract tourism. The prospect of tourists visiting the beach to see the monument meanwhile brought criticism from local wildlife organisations such as the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, who noted how within the first three months of 1999, five thousand visitors had come to see the monument. Tourist traffic disturbed feeding wader birds in Holme Dunes National Nature Reserve.