The history of this changing coast In the midst of ... · All coasts are dynamic; waves and tides...
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Studland beach huts ©Will Wilkinson All coasts are dynamic; waves and tides bring pebbles and sand and those same waves and tides can take them away again. Beaches are a natural storage system for sand, they grow (accrete), shrink (erode), move, and sometimes disappear altogether. Beaches are part of a natural process driven by the actions of both the land and the sea - ever changing and sensitive to both natural and human impacts. In the midst of Studland’s changing coast Today Studland’s beach continues to grow at the northern end (near the entrance to Poole Harbour), however at the southern end, a very different process is occurring – that of erosion. The dramatic chalk sea stacks (Old Harry Rocks) and sea caves around Handfast Point are testament to the power of nature to shape the coast. As the chalk erodes, caves and stacks collapse and these will eventually be replaced by new structures as the cliffs recede. The eroded material may return to the northern end of the beaches in the form of new sand. This process will continue and inevitably result in the loss of the space currently occupied by beach huts, cafés and the National Trust’s current visitor facilities at Studland. This provides local people, small business owners, and the National Trust (who manage Studland beaches) with complicated challenges for the future. Sea levels have changed in the past; rising and falling naturally at different points in history. In the future it is predicted that the impact of climate change will cause sea levels to rise and this will lead to higher tides. These factors will have an even greater impact on coastal processes. Studland beaches - sand, sea, and sun ... The classic features of Studland - the dunes, the heath, the gulls, and Old Harry Rocks sheltering the bay - could trick you into thinking that this is how it always was, and always will be. When reliving childhood memories of sand castles and ice creams you may remember the beaches as bigger … but then, you were a child and everything seemed larger… and whatever happened to the Fort Henry Pillbox which sat on Redend Point? Above: 1586 ‘Survey of the Isle of Purbeck’ Ralph Treswell ©National Trust Images Left: Studland 1811-12. Reproduced with the kind permission of Ordnance Survey © showing the changes which have occurred on Studland’s coast. Below: Little Sea in the sun ©Will Wilkinson The Studland Peninsula formed some 600 years ago. We can trace its existence back to a narrow peninsula as seen in the 1586 Treswell map. Little Sea, the freshwater lagoon, had not yet formed. Over time huge deposits of sand have built up the peninsula creating a dune system which is now the largest development of sand dunes in central-southern England. The changes to Studland’s coast over the past 100 years have been recorded in photographs and postcards, as well as by local people and those who return to the area year after year. The history of this changing coast
Transcript of The history of this changing coast In the midst of ... · All coasts are dynamic; waves and tides...
Studland beach huts ©Will Wilkinson
All coasts are dynamic; waves and tides bring pebblesand sand and those same waves and tides can takethem away again. Beaches are a natural storage systemfor sand, they grow (accrete), shrink (erode), move, andsometimes disappear altogether. Beaches are part of anatural process driven by the actions of both the landand the sea - ever changing and sensitive to both naturaland human impacts.
In the midst of Studland’s changing coast
Today Studland’s beach continues to grow at thenorthern end (near the entrance to Poole Harbour),however at the southern end, a very different process isoccurring – that of erosion. The dramatic chalk sea stacks(Old Harry Rocks) and sea caves around Handfast Pointare testament to the power of nature to shape the coast.As the chalk erodes, caves and stacks collapse and thesewill eventually be replaced by new structures as the cliffsrecede. The eroded material may return to the northernend of the beaches in the form of new sand. This processwill continue and inevitably result in the loss of the spacecurrently occupied by beach huts, cafés and the NationalTrust’s current visitor facilities at Studland. This provideslocal people, small business owners, and the NationalTrust (who manage Studland beaches) with complicatedchallenges for the future.
Sea levels have changed in the past; rising and fallingnaturally at different points in history. In the future it ispredicted that the impact of climate change will causesea levels to rise and this will lead to higher tides. Thesefactors will have an even greater impact on coastalprocesses.
Studland beaches - sand, sea, and sun ... The classic
features of Studland - the dunes, the heath, the gulls,
and Old Harry Rocks sheltering the bay - could trick you
into thinking that this is how it always was, and always
will be. When reliving childhood memories of sand
castles and ice creams you may remember the
beaches as bigger … but then, you were a child and
everything seemed larger… and whatever happened
to the Fort Henry Pillbox which sat on Redend Point?
Above: 1586 ‘Survey of the Isleof Purbeck’ Ralph Treswell©National Trust Images
Left: Studland 1811-12.Reproduced with the kindpermission of Ordnance Survey©
showing the changes which haveoccurred on Studland’s coast.
Below: Little Sea in the sun©Will Wilkinson
The Studland Peninsula formedsome 600 years ago. We can traceits existence back to a narrowpeninsula as seen in the 1586Treswell map. Little Sea, thefreshwater lagoon, had not yetformed. Over time huge depositsof sand have built up the peninsulacreating a dune system which isnow the largest development ofsand dunes in central-southernEngland. The changes toStudland’s coast over the past 100years have been recorded inphotographs and postcards, as wellas by local people and those whoreturn to the area year after year.
The history of this changing coast
LiCCo
StudlandLiving with a Changing Coast
What does the future hold?
The ‘Living with a Changing Coast project’ is working toempower local people to identify how their coast mightchange and what that change might mean. Byunderstanding and planning for change now we can takeaction to ensure that Studland can adapt to change andcontinues to thrive in the future.
The National Trust always seeks to use the most up todate science and local knowledge to enable the bestpossible management of the coast at Studland. Yourinvolvement in preparing and adapting for change is akey part of the future of our coast.
If you would like to be involved in the ‘Living with aChanging Coast’ project and upcoming events, and/or ifyou would like to contribute your old postcards or photosof Studland towards our Coastal Change ReminiscenceExhibition please contact:
Elli MacDonaldLiving with a Changing Coast (LiCCo) Project OfficerEmail: [email protected]: 01929 452 314
Studland bay and Old Harry Rocks ©Kate Mayo
LiCCoA partnership project helping coastalcommunities to better understand,prepare for and adapt to the impactsof climate change, sea level rise anderosion on the natural and humanenvironment.
www.licco.eu (available Sept 2012)
How can we manage change
for a better future
• Take a long term view• Think of the bigger picture• Work with nature• Get the right groups of people working together• Reflect local character and needs• Be flexible to new science and local knowledge
Shoreline Management Plans (SMP) take a long termview of coastal change over the next 25, 50 and100 yearsand how we can manage that change. To do this theybreak the coast up into management ‘cells’ and set outguidance for how coastal change can be managed toreduce the risk to people, property and the environmentin each of those cells.
For the coast at Studland the Two Bays ShorelineManagement Plan proposes that the majority of the coastshould be allowed to evolve naturally. Where facilities atKnoll Beach and Middle Beach are vulnerable this mayrequire planning for relocating or removing them, andremoving defences which have reached their end of theirworking life. The National Trust has developed a nationalplan for coastal change and a locally focused adaptationstrategy for the future management of the coast atStudland, based upon the SMP.
As sea levels rise, it is increasingly unlikely that sufficientfunds (nationally) will be available to defend many of theplaces defended today. This will leave us with decisions tomake about where to defend and where to consider otheroptions. Allowing natural processes to resumeuninterrupted will ensure that there are beaches for futuregenerations to enjoy.
Children walking through heath ©National Trust Images/David Levenson
06/12 Printed on 100%recycled paper
