Dorset CoastBy Kieran, Kevin, Holly and Jake

Background of Dorset coastThe Dorset coast is also known as the

Jurassic coast

This is known as the Jurassic coast due to the age of the rocks which is : 140 million years old.

The rock was formed back in the historic period of time: The Jurassic Period. After the animals and plants died there bones eventually compressed below ground creating limestone and chalk.

Landscape of Dorset coast.

There is a variety of landslides, beaches, bays and cliffs which result in an ever changing landscape.

Varying landscape lends itself to a diverse range of birds and wildlife e.g. dolphins.

These above points help draw in the tourists.

Geology of the Area.

Purbeck is a classic place to see how the underlying rocks control the development of the landscape and coastline. Around Lulworth, hard bands of Portland limestone form a barrier to the sea.

Inland, the underlying geology controls the form of the landscape. A huge fold in the rocks runs between Lulworth and Ballard Down, creating a striking chalk ridge upon which Corfe Castle is built. To the north, younger sands and clays give rise to the heathlan d character around Poole Harbour

Tourism in Dorset.

o The tourism industry is by far the best income for the Dorset inhabitants, with over a million visitors a year.

o The main businesses of Dorset are usually small local businesses that constantly caters for the tourists during the summer season.

Studland Beach Dorset

Due to its rich and varied plant and animal life, Studland Beach was declared a national reserve in 1962.

The National Trust tries to run it as a family beach; a visitor centre was built in 1990 with its own shop, café and information point.

There are 311 beach huts along the front of the beach, most are privately owned but the National Trust 38 for weekly and seasonal lets

Visitor numbers Over 1,000,000 a year

Parking spaces Roughly 3500 in national trust car parks plus 1,300 in the studland area

Total number of cars in the national trust car parks per year

135,000-210,000

Foot passengers during the summer season the ferry

8000

Visitors on the beach during a busy day

20,000-25,000

Honey Pot sites- Durdle Door

Durdle door is a rock arch in the sea which was formed as a result of the softer rock being eroded away behind the hard limestone, allowing the sea to punch through them. The word Durdle, is taken from an old English word ‘thrill’ meaning drill. Eventually the arch will collapse to leave a sea stack just like old harry and his wife in Dorset. And also like those that can be seen at Ladram Bay in East Devon.

Honey pot sites- Lulworth Cove

Lulworth cove is the prime Dorset attraction for the budding geographer or simply for a Leisurely walk along the natural heritage coastline and the challenging hills.

Lulworth cove was formed about 10000 years ago. It continues to evolve behind aNarrow Portland stone entrance as the softer Purbeck, Wealdon green sand andchalk exposures are eroded.

BENEFITS: Many beautiful long stretches of beach. Lots of sunning accommodation.Many entertainment like sailing, pubs and restaurants . It is also unspoilt by moderndevelopment .

General problems and solutions to the honey pot sites.

Problems of Honey Pot sites: Traffic congestion, especially narrow roads during holiday

times. Air pollution from exhaust fumes. Noise pollution from cars and people. Erosion of footpaths around beauty spots. Visitors may cause problems for farmers, disturbing

lambs. Locals may find area changing from its traditional roots

and being crowded, they may leave.

Solutions to problems of Honey Pot sites: Traffic restrictions, more parking space. One way road system. Separate road for locals. Repair of eroded footpaths. By-pass

Coastal defence schemes.

In 1980 it became clear that West Dorset District Council needed to carry out some

form of coastal protection work at Lyme Regis as a result of the problems posed by

landslips in Langmore and Lister gardens, and the problem of maintenance of failing

sea walls. In addition to these coast protection problems the River Lim and the town

beaches were often becoming polluted during storm conditions due to an ageing

sewage and foul water storage system which could no longer cope with the demands

Planning issues

LAND USE PLANS NEED TO ENSURE THAT UNNECESSARY DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT TAKE PLACE WHERE IT WOULD INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY OR PEOPLE AT RISK.

MANY PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY THE EROSION OF THE FORE SHORE AND MAJOR BREACHES OF THE SEA WALLS.

The residents, in the coastal parts of Weymouth, have already had part of their gardens fall into the sea due to recent land slips.

A further 30 homes are at risk over the next 150 years

flooding

In Dorset the average cost due to flooding is around £250000 per year. This money goes towards repairs on damaged buildings-residential and commercial- and the agricultural land. Also some sites with environmental designations are affected by flooding.

The winters of 1983-84, 1993-94, 1994-95 and 1999-2000 all saw notable flooding events. Each timeproperties were flooded from a combination of river,groundwater and surface water flooding. In addition,more minor flooding occurs every year in some area

......Flooding continued

Severe winter storms and warmer than average summer temperatures will mean a greater risk of

thunderstorms and flash flooding. Guidance from the government suggests this could increase river flows by 20 per cent by 2100

this will mean that a greater effort will be needed to: Make sure that main roads remain passable. Protect and improve important wildlife sites and

species.Protect and enhance historic features. Conserve the special landscape of West Dorset.Maintain and restore watercourses and floodplains to

their natural state.Protect water quality.

Infrastructure and access

All built structures such as bridges, pylons, roads and railway lines will become more vulnerable to higher winds, flooding, storm events and soil moistures changes. Damage to rural roads and overloading of sewers may also become more commonplace.

The coastal villages and towns are easily cut off during storm conditions because most have only one access route in and out of the towns e.g. Swanage, Ringstead, Charmouth

Social and Economic Opportunities on the Dorset Coast

As a coastal area, Dorset has used its natural resources to develop both in social and economic thresholds. This has ranged from primary industry such as fishing- which has been practised in Dorset for hundreds of years- to the tertiary sector and the very large tourism industry which now exists in Dorset. Various SSSIs in the area have allowed Dorset to enter into the Quaternary sector also.

Industry on the Dorset Coast

Fishing has been an important part of Dorset’s coastal zone for hundreds of years. Today, activity focuses on a fleet of 300 vessels based on Dorset’s ports and harbours, and a larger number beyond the 6-mile limit, some of which land their catch locally. The fleet targets a mixed fishery offshore, with crabs and lobsters being the staple catch for many boats

Maritimes industries

Maritime industries are businesses which are dependant on the marine environment. They include firms which practice in boat manufacture and the associated equipment and services.

Poole Harbour is the hub of maritime industry in Dorset, with over 115 firms practising there. A further 30 firms are based in Bournemouth and Christchurch, with 15 more in Weymouth and Portland.

The marine industries employ an estimated 2000 workers in Dorset, both skilled and unskilled, and the total estimated turnover from marine industries in Dorset exceeded £180million. It is estimated that around 19% (£34million) of this was retained locally

Oil and Gas

The Oil and Gas industries have become established in Dorset’s coastal zone following the cultivation of Wytch Farm: Europe’s largest offshore oilfield, which was discovered in 1974. However, along with the smaller Wareham and Kimmeridge fields, no other sites in Dorset would appear to be commercially viable.

Furthermore, all recent proposals for offshore exploration have been subject to environmental assessment as Dorset’s already existing oilfields have high standards of environmental management.

Conflicts and solutions

Conflict: Local people complain about noise and litter, traffic

congestion and inconsiderable parking, particularly during the summer months.

Solution: Setting up a poop scoop schemes to stop dogs fouling on

beaches. Conflict: Up to 200 cars park illegally on the roadside or on the

fragile heath.Solution: Fences along roadside to prevent illegal parking; overflow

car parks have been made but no more are possible because they will destroy the heathland. Set up park and ride systems.

Conflict: Lulworth in Dorset is a heavy tourist destination.

Tourists visiting Lulworth may find themselves in conflict with local people

Solution: Some of the traffic problems have been solved by

the building of a large car park, which is managed by the Lulworth Estate. It can accommodate over 500 cars, and a mini roundabout has been constructed to allow easy access in and out of the car park. Profits from the car park are used to subsidise a bus service from the local railway station to try and encourage people not to come by car.

Conflict: Some of the land around Lulworth is used by the

Ministry of Defence for live firing. Some visitors are unhappy about this because of the noise pollution and the restrictions placed on visitors when roads and the South West Coast Path are closed. Firing has also caused damage to the coast. Landslides have occurred on the seaward side of Bindon Hill where extensive shell fire has been targeted at the landward side.

Solution: The Ministry of Defence has helped resolve this

conflict by agreeing a ‘no fire’ policy on the Lulworth range at weekends and during busy holiday periods, and the roads are also kept open at these times

Conflict: Erosion of coastal paths by increased number of visitors.Solution: Repair severely eroded footpaths using local materials

and vegetation which has been bio-engineered to improve resistance to walking.

Conflict: Increase in holiday homes prices young people out of the

market.Solution: Provide more local authority housing or subsidise

housing for inhabitants of the area.

Conflict: Increased domestic sewage from increased visitor

numbers.Solution: Improve sewage facilities at most sensitive beaches.Conflict: Seasonal employment.Solution: Promote tourism to the public to try and get it to a year

round resort.Conflict: Disruption of fragile bird breeding sites and disruption by

increased visitor numbers of areas which are environmentally sensitive eg. The Heath

Conflict: Most visitors arrive by car and the road to the beach is also

the road which crosses the Sandbanks.Solution: Ditches to stop 4x4 vehicles crossing the heathland;

prosecuting off-road motorcyclists.Conflict: Many users of Poole Harbour wishing to use the same

water so the area has to be managed.Solution: An Aquatic management Plan was introduced by the Poole

harbour Commissioners in 1994. They allocated certain uses to special areas of the harbour. They have tried to keep conflicting uses away from each other to reduce problems to a minimum.

DORSET HOME OF

LULWORTH COVE

CHESIL BEACH HOME OF DURDLE DOOR

Hope you have enjoyed ;)The end From : KEVIN KEIRAN HOLLY AND JAKE !!!