3.2.16

Coastal Management Case Study - Holderness

Test yourself

Coastal Erosion in Holderness

The Holderness coast is located next to the city of Hull in the north-east of England. Each year, the Holderness Coast retreats 1-2 metres. The area is particularly vulnerable to erosion because of:

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Strong prevailing winds

  • Strong prevailing winds create destructive waves that can do more damage to the coast.
  • The prevailing winds also mean that any eroded material moves away from the place that was eroded (leaving the soft rock exposed).
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Clay cliffs

  • The Holderness Coast is made of boulder clay.
  • This is very soft and easy to erode.
  • Heavy rainfall can cause mass movements in the boulder clay cliffs.

Coastal Management in Holderness

In 1991, a £2 million project built rock groynes and rock revetments at Mappleton in the Holderness coast. These are examples of hard engineering.

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Rock groynes

  • The rock groynes tried to stop sediment being carried away from the Holderness Coast and tried to create a larger beach to protect the land behind.
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Rock armour

  • Rock armour was placed at the foot of the cliffs.
  • The rock armour is meant to absorb some of the waves' energy, instead of the coast or cliffs.

What are the Results & Effects of Coastal Management at Mappleton?

The cliffs at Mappleton now erode at 1-2 metres per year, instead of the 7-10 metres before 1991. Mappleton now has a larger beach, however, there have been some negative effects:

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Area south of Mappleton

  • The area south of Mappleton is experiencing faster coastal erosion as a byproduct.
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Spurn Point

  • The Spurn Point area south, has become less secure.
  • Less material is washed down the Holderness Coast.
  • Some Hebridean Sheep were washed away and killed. People are now warned not to visit the Point at some times of year, or they too could be washed away.
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Spurn Point lifeboat & visitor's centre

  • £471,000 was spent on a visitor's centre which could become less accessible over time.
  • Lifeboat services also operate from Spurn Point.

Jump to other topics

1The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1Natural Hazards

1.2Tectonic Hazards

1.3Weather Hazards

1.4Climate Change

2The Living World

3Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1The UK Physical Landscape

3.2Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.3River Landscapes in the UK

3.4Glacial Landscapes in the UK

4Urban Issues & Challenges

5The Changing Economic World

6The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1Resource Management

6.2Food

6.3Water

6.4Energy

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