Lesson video

Hello and welcome.

My name is Ms. Harrison.

I'm so excited to be learning with you today.

Today's lesson is called "Example of a coastal management scheme." Grab everything that you might need for today's lesson and let's begin our learning.

By the end of today's lesson, you will understand the reasons, strategy, effects, and conflicts that are associated with coastal management at Lyme Regis.

Before we can begin this learning, we need to find the keywords that we'll be using throughout today's lesson.

The keywords in today's lesson are hard engineering, soft engineering, managed retreat and stakeholders.

Hard engineering, this is using artificial structures to protect coastlines from erosion and flooding.

Soft engineering, this is making use of natural processes to reduce erosion and flooding in a way that minimises environmental impact.

Managed retreat, this is when areas of the coast are deliberately allowed to flood or erode naturally.

Stakeholders, this is any groups or individuals that are involved in or interested in changes being made at the coast.

Fantastic, now that we've defined these keywords, we can begin our learning.

The first question we're going to explore in today's lesson is why does Lyme Regis need coastal management? Lyme Regis is a coastal town in Dorset on the south coast of England.

Lyme Bay is to the south of Lyme Regis.

Lyme Regis is well known for its natural beauty, geological importance, and significant challenges with erosion and landslides.

I would like you to pause the video here and have a think why Lyme Regis might need coastal management.

Press Play when you're ready to go through your answers.

Fantastic, the reason why coastal management is needed in Lyme Regis is because they have high rates of erosion and this is caused by unstable geology, high rates of mass movement, and long fetch and powerful waves.

They also have a risk to their tourist economy and there is a risk to people's homes and businesses.

So let's now explore why Lyme Regis needs coastal management in a bit more depth.

Lyme Regis is located on a discordant stretch of the Jurassic coast and it is built on alternating layers of limestone and clay, a combination that creates inherent instability.

When heavy rainfall saturates the layers, the limestone above becomes heavier and prone to sinking over the weaker clay below leading to landslides and slumping.

Furthermore, the clay is highly susceptible to wave erosion causing the cliffs to retreat at a rapid pace.

This geological makeup makes coastal management essential to protect the town.

Let's now test our knowledge.

What type of rocks are found at Lyme Regis? Is it, A, limestone and clay, B, limestone and chalk, or, C, chalk and basalt? Pause the video here once you decide and press Play when you're ready to check your answers.

Fantastic, the answer is A, the rocks found at Lyme Regis are limestone and clay, well done.

Lyme Regis has a long history of landslides, with one of the most recent landslides occurring near the harbour in 2016.

Such events disrupt access to beaches, they damage local businesses and they jeopardise homes.

Currently there are around 500 properties that are at risk from coastal erosion.

Key infrastructure, including roads and utility networks, are also under threat, showing the importance and the need for proactive management strategies to be implemented at Lyme Regis.

Lyme Regis is exposed to waves generated across the Atlantic Ocean.

The concept of fetch explains the distance over which the wind travels across open water to generate waves.

At Lyme Regis, the prevailing winds from the southwest create waves with a fetch of up to 2,000 kilometres across the Atlantic Ocean.

This long fetch produces powerful, high-energy waves that accelerate coastal erosion and increase the risk of damage to the shoreline and nearby infrastructure.

The long fetch unstable geology has resulted in some areas of the Lyme Regis coast experiencing erosion rates of one to two metres per year.

The graphic on your screen is showing change at Lyme Regis between 1890 and modern day.

You'll be able to see that the coastline is farther inland in the modern day map than it is in the 1890s map, demonstrating the serious risk of coastal erosion, and the need for coastal management strategies.

Let's test our knowledge.

From which direction is the longest fetch reaching Lyme Regis? Is it A, northwest, B, southwest, C, southeast? Pause the video here whilst to attempt this task and press Play when you're ready to check your answers.

Fantastic, the answer is B.

The direction which the longest fetch reaches Lyme Regis is the southwest.

Well done on this task.

After a landslide in 2008, it was decided that Lyme Regis needed additional coastal management strategies.

The reason for this is there are around 4,000 people that live in Lyme Regis with nearly 500 homes at risk from coastal erosion.

Stretches of road along the coast, and utility pipes and cables are at risk of damage from coastal erosion.

Lyme Regis is also a really popular tourist destination and tourists and tourist infrastructure, like chalets, need protection from the risk of mass movement.

Tourism is the economic lifeblood of Lyme Regis.

It generates an estimated 43 million pounds annually.

The town's appeal lies in activities such as fossil hunting, recreational fishing, beach visits, and water sports.

Coastal management plays a crucial role in preserving these attractions, ensuring the town remains a vibrant destination for visitors whilst also supporting local livelihoods.

True or false, Lyme Regis has relatively good protection from storms as it is sheltered from nearby cliffs? Pause the video here whilst you decide if this statement is true or false and press Play when you're ready to check your answers.

Fantastic, this statement is false.

I would now like you to explain why this statement is false.

Pause the video here and press Play when you're ready to check your answers.

Fantastic, the reason why this statement is false is because Lyme Regis receives little protection from storms. The fetch from the Atlantic Ocean to Lyme Regis can be up to 2,000 kilometres.

This long fetch increases the energy of waves reaching the coastline, contributing to erosion processes experienced along the coast.

Well done if you managed to explain this correctly.

I would now like you to complete the three missing bits of the spider diagram.

I've already labelled some for you.

I've mentioned the high rates of erosion, which is caused by high rates of mass movement.

I've also mentioned the risks to people's homes and businesses.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press Play When you're ready to check your answers.

Fantastic work, let's see if you manage to get some of the following points.

I mentioned unstable geology, long fetch and powerful waves, and the risk to the tourist economy.

Well done, I would now like you to complete the grid below explaining why Lyme Regis is vulnerable to coastal erosion.

We're going to focus on two causes of vulnerability: unstable geology and long fetch.

I would like you to write a description using case study-specific information about unstable geology and long fetch, and I would also like you to explain the specific impact on Lyme Regis, again, using case study information.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press Play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

Let's check our answers.

The cause of vulnerability, unstable geology.

Lyme Regis cliffs are made up of layers of limestone and soft clay.

The clay is easily eroded by wave action and the cliffs are vulnerable to sliding and slumping, especially when saturated by heavy rainfall.

In 2016, a landslide caused significant damage near to the Lyme Regis harbour and 500 homes are also at risk of erosion.

Long fetch, Lyme Regis is exposed to powerful waves from the Atlantic Ocean.

The fetch from the southeast is around 2,000 kilometres.

Very large waves can be generated by the wind blowing over such long distance.

The impact, exposed to these powerful destructive waves, parts of Lyme Regis coastline experience rates of coastal erosion of one to two metres per year.

Well done on this task.

I hope you managed to get some of the following points included in your answer.

We're now going to explore our second question in this lesson.

What coastal management strategies are used? Lyme Regis Environmental Improvement Strategy addresses coastal risks through a combination of hard and soft engineering techniques and have implemented it in five distinct phases.

Phase 1 included seawalls and rock armour, which were constructed in 1995.

Phase 2 and 3 involved beach nourishment and cliff stabilisation in 2007.

Phase 4 was the cliff stabilisation, the Church Cliff and East Cliff areas of Lyme Regis, together with a new concrete seawall being built in front of an older seawall, which was deteriorating in 2014.

And they've got a Phase 5, which is talking about the strengthening of the Cobb.

This is a wall and a walkway that protects Lyme Regis harbour.

It's estimated to cost around 2.

5 million pounds and it's hoped that it'll be completed in 2025.

Hard engineering methods involve constructing artificial structures like seawalls.

The Phase 4 seawall was constructed to protect 500 properties above Church Cliff and East Cliff.

Seawalls provide robust protection by absorbing wave energy and reducing cliff undercutting.

However, they are expensive and it costs around 20 million pounds, which is a significant investment for the local government.

It can also disrupt natural coastal processes, leading to erosion further along the coast.

Seawalls also require ongoing maintenance, which adds to the long-term financial burden for the council.

Groynes, these have been installed along the coastline to prevent longshore drift, which carry sediment from the beaches.

Groynes ensure that the beach front is wide and stable, providing a buffer against coastal erosion.

They also help to maintain the sandy beach, which is a key attraction for tourists visiting Lyme Regis for the seaside charm.

However, this can also create erosion down the coast.

A sediment is no longer being able to naturally flow along the shore, causing sediment staff beaches further down the coast, and they also need to be maintained frequently, which incurs ongoing costs, especially after storms or heavy weather events that can damage them.

Beach nourishment, this involves adding sand and shingle to replenish the beach and counteract erosion.

They're fantastic because they help to protect coastal areas quickly by absorbing wave energy and they ensure a wide beach, which is crucial for attracting tourists.

But they require continuous replenishment every few years to keep the beach stable.

And extracting sand and shingle from nearby areas can disrupt marine ecosystems and also impact local fisheries, which can be negative for the local economy.

Cliff stabilisation methods have been implemented to reduce the risks of landslides.

This is important for the East Cliff.

Cliff stabilisation includes planting vegetation or using netting and drainage systems to reduce landslides.

Whilst they're environmentally friendly, this approach does not address the underlying cause of erosion and requires regular maintenance.

And if it's not maintained, it can pose a serious risk to animals and humans.

The coastal management strategy at Lyme Regis is hold the line.

An alternative option not currently used at Lyme Regis would be managed retreat.

This means to allow erosion in specific coastal locations.

This management strategy also has positives and negatives.

It's a cheaper solution over time compared to continuous defence measures and it restores the natural processes and creates new habitats, such as salt marshes or coastal wetlands, which can be great in increasing wildlife in the area.

However, it requires relocating residents and businesses from threatened areas, and also incurs potential loss of homes and infrastructure which may not be acceptable for local communities.

Let's test our knowledge.

Which are examples of hard engineering methods being used at Lyme Regis? Is it A, beach nourishment, B, groynes, C, managed retreat or D, wall? You may select more than one for this question.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press Play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the examples of hard engineering methods used at Lyme Regis are groynes and seawalls, well done.

True or false Lyme Regis Environmental improvement strategy is a plan to help increase the biodiversity in the area? Pause the video here whilst you decide and press Play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

This statement is false.

I would now like you to explain why it's false.

Pause the video here and press Play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent work, the reason why this is false is because the local government developed a plan to manage the coastline at Lyme Regis called the Lyme Regis Environmental Improvement Strategy.

It includes seawalls, groynes, rock armour, and beach nourishment.

Well done if you managed to list the coastal management strategies that are used at Lyme Regis.

I would now like you to explain one hard engineering and one soft engineering method used at Lyme Regis.

Aisha has cleverly noted that hard engineering methods involve artificial structures and soft engineering methods use natural processes to reduce coastal erosion.

Alex has mentioned that he knows that Lyme Regis uses seawalls, groynes and beach nourishment.

Pause the video here wants to attempt this task and press Play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

Let's go through your answer.

Your answer might include some of the following points.

One hard engineering method used at Lyme Regis is the seawall.

It absorbs wave energy preventing the sea from reaching the land and damaging properties.

The seawall also helps to prevent landslides along the cliffs because it reduces undercutting of the cliffs by wave action.

A soft engineering method used at Lyme Regis is beach nourishment.

The added material acts as a buffer against wave energy reducing the risk of erosion.

Beach nourishment is a more natural solution compared to hard engineering and helps maintain the area's appeal.

Fantastic, I hope you managed to include some of these points.

This answer is good because it's clearly identified, and accurately identified a hard engineering method and a soft engineering method, and it's explained the positives of it and what it actually does.

Well done on this task.

We're now gotta begin our third question of this lesson.

What are effective strategies? The management strategies at Lyme Regis have had both positive and negative effects.

The positive effect is that over 500 properties are now protected from landslides and erosion.

The enhanced beach has boosted tourism, attracting more visitors and increasing income for local businesses.

Key infrastructures such as roads and pipelines are now secure.

While the management strategies have been effective in protecting Lyme Regis from coastal erosion and landslides, it has caused conflict between different stakeholders.

Laura has cleverly noted that she thinks local communities would be in favour of hard engineering strategies because this best protects their homes and businesses.

Whilst one has said that he thinks councils might sometimes find it hard to justify hard engineering because it costs them a lot of money and this is because they might need to use the money on other services, like schools or hospitals or police.

Let's look at some of the stakeholders in conflict.

The first one is environmentalists against local communities.

Environmental groups oppose hard engineering solutions, like seawalls and groynes.

They say that they disrupt natural processes and they damage ecosystems, whereas local communities and businesses prioritise these defences for immediate protection against erosion and landslides, and this is because they have an invested interest in their homes and businesses maintaining in the local area.

This environmentalist has noted that Lyme Regis is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast.

And because of that, they have a responsibility to manage this coastal line sustainably and preserve its heritage.

The next stakeholders in conflict are property owners in the government.

Property owners, especially those near the cliffs, demand protection for their homes and businesses because they're susceptible to things like landslides.

The government faces budget constraints and must prioritise public infrastructure, things like roads and hospitals, sometimes considering managed retreat for vulnerable areas and this would be used in areas where the land has low economic value.

This means that there's not a big community living there or not providing much money into the local economy.

A local property owner has said, "The economic and social importance of protecting Lyme Regis means that residents and businesses would never accept managed retreat here." Another stakeholder that's in conflict are tourists and local businesses.

Tourists may be disappointed by the visual impact of coastal defence structures like seawalls.

It doesn't look great when you're going to the beach and you see a really big grey concrete wall on your beach when you want to admire the natural beauty.

Local businesses depend on these measures to maintain Lyme Regis as a tourist destination and to help protect their livelihoods.

A local hotel owner has said that, "At Lyme Regis, the seawall has now become a lovely seafront walk for tourists," showing that management strategies can actually double up as a tourist attraction.

And a tourist has said that, "There's a gap under the railing that my child nearly fell through.

It's not safe anymore." Finally, looking at our last stakeholders in conflict, public interest against private interest in funding.

There is a lot of tension between public funding for coastal protection focused on infrastructure versus the protection of private properties with some feeling private owners should bear more of the costs for defending their homes.

Some people might say, if you're not living very close to the seafront, why do they need to pay for it? Whereas those people who live near the cliff, they know that this is a risk and that they should have to bear the brunt.

One of the Dorset residents says that they don't live in Lyme Regis and they live further down the coast where we have high rates of coastal erosion too.

It isn't fair that Lyme Regis gets all this investment which their tax go towards just because it's popular with tourists.

And they're probably arguing that they would like more coast management where they live.

Due to the conflicting views from different stakeholders, the government ensured that the management plan had to address all of its concerns.

The coastal management plan took into account all the different viewpoints of stakeholders to ensure that it met the environmental, social and economic needs of Lyme Regis.

And that's why they adopted both hard engineering, methods like groynes and seawalls, and soft engineering methods like cliff stabilisation and beach nourishment.

Let's test our knowledge on this.

Why do environmentalists often oppose hard engineering strategies at the coast? Is it A, they remove the natural beauty of the area, B, they can disrupt habitats and endanger wildlife, or C, they make coastal properties more at risk of landslides? Pause the video here once whilst you decide and press Play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic, the answer is A and B.

They remove the natural beauty of the area and they can disrupt habitats and endanger wildlife.

Well done on this task.

True or false, coastal management strategies have had a negative impact at Lyme Regis and actually have an increased erosion there? Pause the video here whilst you decide and press Play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

The statement is false.

I would now like you to explain why.

Pause the video here and press Play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the reason why the statement is false is because coastal management strategies have actually positively impacted Lyme Regis and have protected properties and increased the number of tourists visiting the area for holidays.

Well done If you managed to explain that correctly.

I would now like you to use the stakeholder statements to help you explain why there can be conflicting views about coastal management.

I'm going to read out some of the stakeholder statements for you.

Local resident, "I live near East Cliff and my property might be affected by landslides if continued maintenance is not carried out." Business owner, "Protecting the coast is important for tourism and helps our economy grow." Environmentalist, "I'm worried about coastal management.

Sea walls can harm local wildlife and might cause erosion in other areas." Local counsellor, "Manage retreat is an option we need to explore more as the costs are outweighing the benefits in some areas." I would like you to pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press Play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

Let's go through our answer.

Your answer might include some of the following points.

Coastal management at Lyme Regis has led to conflicting views because different stakeholders have different priorities, needs and perspectives.

Environmentalists argue that hard engineering defences such as seawalls, groynes harm the natural environment by disrupting coastal processes and damaging ecosystems. They're concerned about the impact these structures have on the UNESCO World Heritage Site status of the Jurassic Coast and the loss of biodiversity.

Environmentalists are likely to prefer sustainable soft engineering or managed retreat options.

On the other hand, local communities and businesses prioritise the protection that hard engineering defences offer against coastal erosion and landslides.

They worry about the risk of damage to homes, infrastructure and the local economy if these defences are not implemented.

Property owners, particularly those near the cliffs, also strongly support coastal defences to protect their properties from erosion.

However, the government faces the challenge of balancing the needs of private property owners with limited financial resources.

The government cannot afford to fund protection for every private property and sometime consider managed retreat, where natural erosion is allowed to occur in areas of lower economic value.

Finally, there is a conflict over funding, as local taxpayers help the council to fund coastal management, which costs millions of pounds.

Lyme Regis is not the only Jurassic Coast settlement to be threatened by coastal erosion and taxpayers in those settlements might feel annoyed that their taxes are being used to fund better defences at Lyme Regis while their own properties are left without defences.

Overall, the conflicting views on coastal management at Lyme Regis arise from difference in priorities regarding environmental protection, economic interests, and the need for property protection, and allocation of public resources.

Well done on this task.

This question is great because it's provided a balance argument for both for and against, and it's also provided a clear conclusion which has summarised all the points above.

Well done for attempting this.

We've now come to the end of our lesson of "Example of a coastal management scheme," and you've done brilliantly.

Let's summarise everything we've learned in today's lesson.

Lyme Regis on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset faces higher rates of erosion due to its unstable geology and location.

To protect the town, both hard engineering and soft engineering strategies have been used to protect and stabilise cliffs.

Coastal management is seen as crucial for safeguarding Lyme Regis and investment into defence continues.

The council strategies aim to include as many stakeholder viewpoints as possible, though there continue to be conflicting views about investment and how it is spent.

Well done in this lesson.

You've done absolutely brilliantly.

And I look forward to learning with you again very soon.