The issue of gravel pits

Excavation of gravel has obvious negative effects on the surface shingle and its associated plant and animal communities. However, there is an argument which suggest that the coastal wetland which is created contributes to the overall biological diversity of the area. This is to some extent true as new habitat for a wide variety of coastal birds can be created, as is the case at the RSPB reserve at Dungeness.

Against this there are implications for other interests, not least water abstraction. It appears that increasing the extent of open water can increase the rate of evaporation and hence reduce the water availability in the aquifer - a potential problem on the Denge Beach at Dungeness (Burnham & Cook 2001).

Comment: The restoration of gravel pits is not considered in detail in this Guide.

References

Burnham, C.P. & Cook, H.F. 2001. Hydrology and soils of coastal shingle with specific reference to Dungeness. In: Ecology & Geomorphology of Coastal Shingle, eds.Packham, J.R., Randall, R.E., Barnes, R.S.K. & Neal, A.Westbury Academic and Scientific Publishing, 107-131.