(© Getmapping PLC 2006) of bothpeople andwildlifeinthefuture. how we can best manage them for the benefit Beaches At Risk once thought. not lastaslongwe So ourbeachesmay down. constantly worn the waves,theyare thrown togetherby think. Astheyare tough asyoumight pebbles aren’t as has foundthatflint Beaches At Risk of flintsfrom cliff erosion isactuallyverysmall. Beaches At Risk Chalk andlongshore drift. Studies bythe material comesfrom flints eroded outofthe Scientists nowthinkthattheonlynewbeach movement isgenerallyeastwards. Channelcoasts,this drift. Ontheeastern the coastbyaprocess calledlongshore Sand andshingleisconstantlymovingalong How long will they last? isworkingtounderstand Project suggesttheinput

PF

Sandy Beaches Sandy Some sand is carried down to the coast of the erosion by rivers. Some comes from more Sandy beaches are sandstone cliffs. common in northern France than in southeast . This may be because the French coast has larger rivers and because tidal the Channel from carry sand across currents England to France. Sun-dried sand blows inland forming dunes which shift with the wind. But Marram grass thrives on this loose, mobile sand, and helps building higher to bind the sand together, low lying dunes - perfect for protecting homes for highly land behind and providing specialised plants and animals. Fairlight Cliffs (KC) Cliffs Fairlight (AIT) Sands Camber

Pevensey Bay (AIT) Falmer University ofSussex Chichester Building c/o DepartmentofGeography Beaches At Risk For more informationplease contact: Further Information © East County Council2006 Printed onrecycled paper, chlorinefree. Illustration: DominicAndrews, www.archaeoart.co.uk HarbourNature Reserve(RHNR),BarryYatesRye (BY). Alex Tait BayCountrysideOffice(RBCO), (AIT),Rye Picture credits: KateCole(KC),PatrickFitzsimons(PF), District CouncilandSouthDownsCoastalGroup. Maritimes desPortsdeBoulogneetCalais,Shepway Coastal DefenceLtdandRoyalHaskoningLtd,Services Environment Agency, Halcrow, HRWallingford, Pevensey Général delaSeine-Maritime,DoverCityCouncil,the Council, ConseilRégionaldeHaute-Normandie, Ltd, BrightonandHoveCityCouncil,Canterbury Other funders include ABP Marine Environmental Research Rouen, UniversitédeCaenandSMACOPI. Trust,Kent Wildlife UniversitéduLittoral,de of Sussex(Project Leader), EastSussexCountyCouncil, Beaches At Risk Partners Email: Website: BN19QJ

[email protected] Present www.geog.sussex.ac.uk/BAR 8,000 years ago 20,000 years ago isapartnershipbetweentheUniversity

Project

rivers PF

flint-rich gravel deposits present coastline present

BMAPA think this offshore supply has now stopped, so think this offshore no longer being renewed. our beaches are estuaries and tidal inlets beaches Ice Age sand and gravel deposits thickest deposits found in former river valleys Shingle Beaches Shingle Our shingle beaches are out made of flint eroded of the Chalk. The Chalk itself formed 70-100 millions years ago, from the shells of tiny plants seas. floating in tropical the The flint comes from skeletons of sponge-like animals that used to live in the sea. Constant wearing of the soft chalk by the flint, which the harder weather and sea releases forms pebbles on the beach. But this is only Most of our flint pebbles were part of the story. out of the Chalk long ago. During the eroded lower and much of last Ice Age, sea levels were the Channel floor was exposed. Flints eroded washed onto hills were out of the surrounding then pushed onto the coasts the Channel floor, Scientists as the ice melted and sea levels rose.

Dunes du Perroquet (PF)

Beaches on the Beaches move This project ispart-financed Development Fund(ERDF) by theEuropean Regional Changes in the Rye Bay coastline since 1400 is working to do just that.

constantly changing, shaped by the sea and need to better understand them We weather. and the many benefits they provide. Risk At A fixed landscape? The beaches of southeast England and northern popular holiday France are destinations, and many of us live and work that they defend our near them. Few realise wildlife. homes for rare and provide properties, formed and seldom think how they were We But they are assume they will last forever. RHNR BY

Hastings (© Getmapping PLC 2006) of bothpeople andwildlifeinthefuture. how we can best manage them for the benefit Beaches At Risk once thought. not lastaslongwe So ourbeachesmay down. constantly worn the waves,theyare thrown togetherby think. Astheyare tough asyoumight pebbles aren’t as has foundthatflint Beaches At Risk of flintsfrom cliff erosion isactuallyverysmall. Beaches At Risk Chalk andlongshore drift. Studies bythe material comesfrom flints eroded outofthe Scientists nowthinkthattheonlynewbeach movement isgenerallyeastwards. Channelcoasts,this drift. Ontheeastern the coastbyaprocess calledlongshore Sand andshingleisconstantlymovingalong How long will they last? isworkingtounderstand Project suggesttheinput

PF

Sandy Beaches Sandy Some sand is carried down to the coast of the erosion by rivers. Some comes from more Sandy beaches are sandstone cliffs. common in northern France than in southeast England. This may be because the French coast has larger rivers and because tidal the Channel from carry sand across currents England to France. Sun-dried sand blows inland forming dunes which shift with the wind. But Marram grass thrives on this loose, mobile sand, and helps building higher to bind the sand together, low lying dunes - perfect for protecting homes for highly land behind and providing specialised plants and animals. Fairlight Cliffs (KC) Cliffs Fairlight (AIT) Sands Camber

Pevensey Bay (AIT) Falmer University ofSussex Chichester Building c/o DepartmentofGeography Beaches At Risk For more informationplease contact: Further Information © County Council2006 Printed onrecycled paper, chlorinefree. Illustration: DominicAndrews, www.archaeoart.co.uk HarbourNature Reserve(RHNR),BarryYatesRye (BY). Alex Tait BayCountrysideOffice(RBCO), (AIT),Rye Picture credits: KateCole(KC),PatrickFitzsimons(PF), District CouncilandSouthDownsCoastalGroup. Maritimes desPortsdeBoulogneetCalais,Shepway Coastal DefenceLtdandRoyalHaskoningLtd,Services Environment Agency, Halcrow, HRWallingford, Pevensey Général delaSeine-Maritime,DoverCityCouncil,the Council, ConseilRégionaldeHaute-Normandie, Ltd, BrightonandHoveCityCouncil,Canterbury Other funders include ABP Marine Environmental Research Rouen, UniversitédeCaenandSMACOPI. Trust,Kent Wildlife UniversitéduLittoral,de of Sussex(Project Leader), EastSussexCountyCouncil, Beaches At Risk Partners Email: Website: Brighton BN19QJ

[email protected] Present www.geog.sussex.ac.uk/BAR 8,000 years ago 20,000 years ago isapartnershipbetweentheUniversity

Project

rivers PF

flint-rich gravel deposits present coastline present

BMAPA think this offshore supply has now stopped, so think this offshore no longer being renewed. our beaches are estuaries and tidal inlets beaches Ice Age sand and gravel deposits thickest deposits found in former river valleys Shingle Beaches Shingle Our shingle beaches are out made of flint eroded of the Chalk. The Chalk itself formed 70-100 millions years ago, from the shells of tiny plants seas. floating in tropical the The flint comes from skeletons of sponge-like animals that used to live in the sea. Constant wearing of the soft chalk by the flint, which the harder weather and sea releases forms pebbles on the beach. But this is only Most of our flint pebbles were part of the story. out of the Chalk long ago. During the eroded lower and much of last Ice Age, sea levels were the Channel floor was exposed. Flints eroded washed onto hills were out of the surrounding then pushed onto the coasts the Channel floor, Scientists as the ice melted and sea levels rose.

Dunes du Perroquet (PF)

Beaches on the Beaches move This project ispart-financed Development Fund(ERDF) by theEuropean Regional Changes in the Rye Bay coastline since 1400 is working to do just that.

constantly changing, shaped by the sea and need to better understand them We weather. and the many benefits they provide. Risk At A fixed landscape? The beaches of southeast England and northern popular holiday France are destinations, and many of us live and work that they defend our near them. Few realise wildlife. homes for rare and provide properties, formed and seldom think how they were We But they are assume they will last forever. RHNR BY

More Than Meets The Eye The eastern Channel coasts support The stunning white cliffs of the thriving coastal towns built around eastern Channel coasts are perhaps fishing, tourism and industry. one of our best known and well loved landscapes. Natural erosion of the chalk by the weather and the sea keeps the cliffs white. AIT Fulmars and other seabirds find ledges on the cliffs provide perfect nesting places, safe from predators and with easy access to the sea and food for their chicks. PF Marram grass is a hardy coloniser that can As the sea wears away the chalk, cope with the shifting sands on the beach. each cliff fall adds new flint pebbles It binds the sand together, building dunes, to the beach. and helps other plants take hold. RBCO RBCO

PF Beaches of southeast England and The fishing fleet at Hastings is based on the northern France attract millions of people beach. Many coastal communities depend each year. Sandy beaches are a particular on fishing for their livelihoods. Wide, magnet for holiday makers - as many as sheltered beaches provide safe places for 25,000 people a day visit Camber Sands in hauling up small boats. the summer. BY Shingle plants, adapted to cope with little fresh water and nutrients, fierce winds and salt spray, can develop on our wider Beaches provide natural protection for our coastlines. They absorb wave beaches, forming a rare and beautiful energy, reducing the impact on cliffs and sea walls, and protect low-lying areas wildlife habitat. from flooding by the sea.