Studland Bay

The Studland Bay Nature Reserve in Dorset is renowned for its beauty and is host to a wide variety of plants

and animals. The reserve has many sand dunes, and birds in particular thrive in this environment. However Studland Bay’s easy accessibility by car means many tourists regularly visit the area and this can lead to problems. The beach can get very crowded and some people leave litter behind.

In order to minimise the impact of tourists a number of measures have been adopted at Studland Bay. Marram grass has been planted to stabilise the dunes, which have been fenced off to limit damage; boardwalks have been laid for visitors to walk through the dunes without causing damage; and tourist facilities have been concentrated into one part of the dunes to discourage visitors from wandering too far.

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Case study: East Yorkshire

The East Coast of Yorkshire is eroding fats due to the influence of the North Sea. Homes which a few years ago were a safe distance from the cliff edge now balance precariously and sometimes crash down into the ocean. The area between Flamborough and Spurn Point is particularly at risk, with more than 2 metres (6 1/2 feet) of land being lost each year.

This stretch of our coast is particularly vulnerable because much of the local rock is made up of soft clay. Local people feel trapped because no one wants to buy their homes and now the local council is having to purchase the most vulnerable properties. Farming land is also being lost at a dramatic rate.

In areas like East Yorkshire little can be done to prevent erosion. Sea defences have been built at great cost but if sea levels continue to rise vast swathes of the local area will disappear forever. Already dozens of small towns and villages have been submerged.