A new report published today by the Trust shows that increased coastal erosion could affect 279 kilometres (173 miles) of its coastline in the South West and tidal flooding could affect 852 hectares (2105 acres) of its coastal sites.
In 2005 the Trust published its first Shifting Shores report looking at the long-term future of the coastline in the Trust’s care and the impacts that sea level rise, coastal flooding and increased erosion would bring. Today’s publication adds greater detail to those original findings, identifying which National Trust coastal sites and features are most at risk.
Phil Dyke, coastal and marine adviser at the Trust explained why this is so important:
'Our coast is changing, even in areas such as the south west where the perception of the coast is that the hard rock might offer us some protection. But we know from our research that some of the National Trust’s coastline in the south west is either soft rock so vulnerable to erosion, or low-lying so vulnerable to flooding.
'The kinds of impacts that the National Trust is experiencing will be the same across much of the UK. But we need to look ahead and not just to the immediate future. In Shifting Shores we are considering what could happen in 20, 50 or 100 years time.'
The impacts are categorised into four areas – wildlife and habitat, historic environment, coastal economy and public access – and lists the assets at risk.
For example on Trust land alone, some 16 per cent of protected coastal habitat (SSSI) could be lost due to erosion or change forever due to flooding such as the internationally important lagoon on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour. If sea levels continue to rise, the lagoon could become inundated with sea water, losing a significant habitat for many species of over-wintering and migrating birds.
At least 142 Scheduled Ancient Monuments, 111 listed buildings and one historic garden lie within the risk zone. Westbury Court Garden is a rare example of a 17th-century Dutch Water Garden close to the River Severn in Gloucestershire. In the future the area faces a real threat from flooding and sea water inundation. This would flood the garden with salt water, poisoning the plants and making the garden unviable in its current form for weeks after a flood.
Back in 2005 the National Trust set out a new approach to plan for and manage our future coast. Since then, we have seen some positive steps such as the launch of new guidance on producing Shoreline Management Plans and proposals to review planning guidance on the coast. The draft Marine Bill and a possible Flood and Water Bill should also offer opportunities to develop new, innovative approaches to the management of coastal change. But there’s still more to do.
'With nearly 30 agencies or authorities involved, achieving a coherent planning and management policy along our coast is difficult. We have yet to see the integrated, long-term planning at a local level that would allow property at risk to relocate, and prevent any new building in areas at risk.'
Phil concluded:
'We’ve woken up to the impact of climate change on our coastal sites, and given ourselves time to prepare for the future. We know how important the coast is for people who live in and visit the south west. The prospect of the coastline changing is often very worrying. The Trust cannot work in isolation, and the publication of today’s document is one step in encouraging everyone to work together in responding to the challenges.'
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