How is Hunstanton defended against coastal erosion?

Location Coastal Management along the Hunstanton coast Hunstanton is a seaside town (population 4,229) on the west coast of , , facing . HUNSTANTON CLIFFS It is also one of the few places on the Hunstanton cliffs are eroding at an average rate east coast of England where you can of 3 metres every 10 years. Defence schemes see the sunset over the sea. such as base netting, sand bags and gabions help slow down the rate of erosion

Geology HUNSTANTON TOWN The town is edged by a stretch of The coastal defences in tall cliffs with contrasting this area consist of hard colours of orange, red and white engineering options. The sedimentary rocks. These town is protected by a different types of rock formed 500m sea wall which is millions of years ago. supported by many groynes which aims at extending the Transportation Processes beach. Rock armour is also Longshore drift moves sediment west and then south past Hunstanton in used, but only on important a zig zag movement. If uninterrupted, the sediment would continue to sections of the town. The Wash. SOUTH HUNSTANTON Why does it need protecting? Here soft sand ridges are It is estimated that the risk from flooding strengthened with smaller amounts to some £26 million. The need for sea walls. Some areas of effective sea defences has been the beach are supported by demonstrated twice, firstly in 1953 when 65 groynes that aim to trap people died as a result of sea flooding. sediment and help build up the beach further to Then, in December 2013, Hunstanton reduce erosion. experienced waves that breached the town’s concrete sea walls and damaged several Is the Hunstanton Management Successful? businesses along the front. The storm surge Most of the effects are positive, as the town is now protected by sea caused marine creatures to be evacuated walls and the beach has been built up. The major problem of the sea from the Sea Life centre and damaged the defences is the effect on the beach at , located south of sea wall. In the long term, there were Hunstanton. Here the groynes further north have stopped longshore financial losses to flooded businesses. drift supplying its beach. Now the beach is small and vulnerable How is Hunstanton defended against coastal erosion?

Where is Hunstanton? How is Hunstanton protected?

Hunstanton Cliffs

Hunstanton Town Geology and Processes

Hunstanton South

Why does Hunstanton need protecting?

Is the protection working? Environmentalist Farmer Resident “I am really worried about the “My farm is south of “Coastal defences are vital for impact of hard engineering Hunstanton. Since they have the protection of our homes. methods along Hunstanton. put a number of groynes along After the recent 2013 floods, Part of the Hunstanton coast the town’s front, there has I would like more defences to is a Site of Special Scientific been a lack of beach material ensure homes are no longer Interest (SSSI). The extra arriving to the coast alongside affected by potential floods. construction of defences and my farm. As a result, I have The insurance for my house is the stopping of natural noticed an increase in erosion. already enough without the processes from using groynes This is decreasing the land threat of it possibly increasing could potentially disrupt needed for my crops and due to a lack of defences”. animals and their habitats”. costing me money”.

Business Owner Environment Agency Tourist “I own a shop along the “My job is to monitor and I enjoy the beach and the Hunstanton Promenade which listen to the various many shops along the sells tea and coffee for the stakeholders along the coast. promenade. However, last year many tourists who visit. These I make recommendations to a storm destroyed the Sea tourists support our economy local councils and the Life centre causing it to be and many jobs. Without government on the best closed for nearly a year. This coastal defences such as sea methods to protect important news put me off visiting walls, our shops would be coastlines without harming the because I enjoy going there. I damaged during large storms. social, economic and think more defences would This might affect tourists environmental factors that make the town safe but I visiting our town and make Hunstanton a unique don’t want them damaging the therefore our businesses”. place to visit.” beach.