Safeguarding Welsh Beaches
Welsh beaches are under serious threat from
climate change and sea level rise. Global warming has brought about
a rise in sea levels of around 3mm each year since 1992.
Are we taking Welsh beaches for granted?
According to reports from the Marine Climate Change Impact
Partnership, 23 per cent of the Welsh coastline is already
suffering from erosion, with only 20 per cent protected by man-made
structures. Over time, this means that beaches may become narrower,
with a smaller area or even no beach available at high tide.
Welsh beaches are an important visitor and tourist attraction.
Visit Wales estimates that almost half the jobs in the coastal and
marine environment are tourism related. Welsh beaches also provide
and protect important coastal habitat for a range of wildlife, and
play a vital role in coastal defence, protecting coastal
communities and infrastructure by reducing the energy of waves.
Unless measures are taken to maintain the beaches over the next
ten to 20 years, their effectiveness as tourism, coastal defence
and conservation assets will be considerably reduced.
The Beach Nourishment Project
A series of studies commissioned by The Countryside Council for
Wales (CCW) has looked at ways of protecting this valuable resource
by placing additional sand or shingle on existing beaches through a
process termed beach nourishment or replenishment. In doing so, the
important social, environmental and economic functions that Welsh
beaches provide could be maintained and potentially even
enhanced.
The study was funded by the Aggregate Levy Fund for Wales, The
Crown Estate, the British Marine Aggregate Producers Association
and CCW, with key data contributions from Environment Agency Wales.
These partners, along with Welsh Government formed the steering
group for the project.
The project represents an initial pilot and feasibility study,
and includes a number of recommendations for further work.
The study has clearly demonstrated that Welsh beaches are highly
valued by a wide range of stakeholders. It is also clear that beach
nourishment is a tool that could be used more to help to safeguard
or enhance this resource in the future.
The Steering Group would like to thank everyone who has
contributed to this project, including those who attended the
workshops, and we would welcome any further comments or
suggestions, which would help to inform next steps.
If you would like further information about this project please
contact Nicola Rimington, Ceri Seaton or Emmer Litt.
Resources
Research
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Ecological Effects of Re-building Beaches on Intertidal Habitats in Wales CCW Science Report No.997 Download Ecological Effects of Re-building Beaches on Intertidal Habitats in Wales CCW Science Report No 997.pdf (7 MB)
In 2012, CCW commissioned this study to examine one of the recommendations of the Phase 2 study, namely:
“The ecological effects (including potential benefits or adverse effects) of re-building beaches need to be investigated in more detail. This should consider the most appropriate places for beach re-building [in terms of the potential beneficial and adverse effects on the services provided by the beaches] such as, the methods used (including timing of works) and the suitability of different types of material.”
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Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974 Download Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974.pdf (1 MB)
If Wales wants to preserve its beaches and all the benefits they provide for the natural
environment, tourism and coastal protection, then we need to re-build them by ‘feeding’ them
where they are not fed by natural processes.
This project has looked at some of the practical issues connected with re-building beaches in
Wales to enable all stakeholders to engage in an informed discussion about using beach
nourishment.
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Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974-Annex A-Pilot Study Report Download Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974-Annex A Pilot Study Report.pdf (1 MB)
This pilot project examines the potential requirement for beach nourishment to maintain and
safeguard the value of Welsh beaches which are at current and future risk.
The study is underpinned by the principles of sustainability.
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Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974-Annex A-Pilot Study Tables and Figures Download Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974-Annex A-Pilot Study Tables and Figures.pdf (20 MB)
This pilot project examines the potential requirement for beach nourishment to maintain and
safeguard the value of Welsh beaches which are at current and future risk.
The study is underpinned by the principles of sustainability.
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Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974-Annex B-Workshop Findings and Outcome Report Download Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974-Annex B-Workshop Findings and Outcome Report.pdf (573 KB)
This pilot project examines the potential requirement for beach nourishment to maintain and
safeguard the value of Welsh beaches which are at current and future risk.
The study is underpinned by the principles of sustainability.
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inaccessible resource:
Download estimate:
- 56 Kb
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- 512 Kb
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Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974-Annex C-Review of Shoreline Management Plans in Wales Download Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974-Annex C-Review of Shoreline Management Plans in Wales.pdf (1 MB)
This pilot project examines the potential requirement for beach nourishment to maintain and
safeguard the value of Welsh beaches which are at current and future risk.
The study is underpinned by the principles of sustainability.
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Download estimate:
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Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974-Annex D-Resource and Economic Appraisal-Appendices Download Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974-Annex D-Resource and Economic Appraisal-Appendices.pdf (43 MB)
This pilot project examines the potential requirement for beach nourishment to maintain and
safeguard the value of Welsh beaches which are at current and future risk.
The study is underpinned by the principles of sustainability.
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inaccessible resource:
Download estimate:
- 56 Kb
- 119 min,
- 512 Kb
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Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974-Annex D-Resource Study and Economic Appraisal Download Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974-Annex D-Resource Study and Economic Appraisal.pdf (822 KB)
This pilot project examines the potential requirement for beach nourishment to maintain and
safeguard the value of Welsh beaches which are at current and future risk.
The study is underpinned by the principles of sustainability.
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inaccessible resource:
Download estimate:
- 56 Kb
- 2 min,
- 512 Kb
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Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974-Annex E-UK and International Examples of Re-building beaches Download Re-building Welsh Beaches for Multiple Benefits CCW Science Report No 974-Annex E-UK and International Examples of Re-building beaches.pdf (317 KB)
This pilot project examines the potential requirement for beach nourishment to maintain and
safeguard the value of Welsh beaches which are at current and future risk.
The study is underpinned by the principles of sustainability.
-
inaccessible resource:
Download estimate:
- 56 Kb
- < 1 min,
- 512 Kb
- < 1 min,
- 1 Mb
- < 1 min,
- 4 Mb
- < 1 min,