Dungeness - shingle recycling

Shingle recycling takes place at Dungeness (as well as Rye and Orfordness) and because material is derived from a local source problems associated with importing the wrong type of shingle are less evident.

At Dungeness longshore drift is from west to east and the tip of the Ness would naturally continue to move eastwards, as it has done for centuries. The short-term consequence of this would be a deficit of material immediately in front of the nuclear power stations. Clearly the nuclear power station needs protecting and as a result, beach nourishment is carried out to build up the shore and protect the buildings from being undermined and possibly falling into the sea. Material is collected at the east of the site and carried by lorry to the west.

Longshore drift ensures the material is moved to the shoreline in front of the station and eventually back to where it was originally collected in the east. From here it is scooped up again and carried back to the west: a never-ending cycle of recharge. Although this protects the power station it prevents the accretion of 'pioneer' shingle ridges on the east side of the site (see figure below and pictures opposite and below).

Caption: Extracting shingle from the east side of Dungeness

Caption: The 'Shingle Cycle'

Caption: Nourishing the beach to the west of the power station, which can be seen in the background.