Shingle restoration - letting nature take its course

Approaches to coastal management, which 'work with nature' and accept the 'naturally' dynamic state of shingle beaches and many of the shingle structures as providing the potential for a more cost effective approach to restoration. Letting nature take its course relies on the recognition of two key principles, articulated in the coastal vegetated shingle Habitat Action Plan, namely:

1. the importance of understanding the nature of the sediment supply (including section 2.1);
2. the role of natural mobility (section 2.2), which can be seen as a healing force on degraded shingle systems.

The situation at Porlock (Annex 01) is perhaps the best illustration of the way things can develop under more or less natural conditions. Here a natural storm breach in effect pre-empted discussions about continuing to protect the shingle ridge through reprofiling and beach nourishment. Today the former tidal land converted to grazing marsh and arable land has now reverted to brackish and saltwater communities as the tide has reinvaded the land following a breach in the shingle ridge caused by a storm. The site was re-designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest following the breach, with a new description reflecting the fact that saltmarsh and transitions to brackish water habitats had largely replaced the coastal grazing marsh. The site shows that coastal habitats can be re-created and that although they may be different from that which they replace, they may be no less important.

Other considerations are relevant at this site, not least the attitude of the local population, opposed to leaving things as they are i.e. NOT closing the breach and reinstating the sea defence structures. The site report (Annex 01) discusses this issue also.