Climate change is having an impact on the coast at Godrevy as rising sea levels and more extreme weather events take their toll. With access to the headland and farm at Godrevy threatened by coastal erosion, we are drawing up plans to adapt and maintain access for visitors whilst taking steps to protect the Scheduled Monument and valuable habitat that make up the headland.
The challenges at Godrevy
Godrevy has one of the National Trust's busiest coastal car parks, with more than 250,000 vehicles using the headland car park each year.
With coastal erosion undermining the single access road to Godrevy headland, access to the main parking area is under threat. In addition, the impact of this volume of cars presents great challenges in terms of how we can manage the fragile coastal grassland and archaeological remains, which are easily damaged.
We are currently exploring how we can adapt to this challenge whilst maintaining visitor access to the headland and improving the coastal and farmland habitats to allow nature to flourish.
A changing scene
The latest geological surveys estimate that the road may become unsafe in a relatively short time – possibly within the next five years. We have to ask ourselves: how will images taken five years from now look?
We've been developing plans over a number of years to try to ensure we can maintain parking as close to the headland as possible, while also exploring how we can improve facilities for visitors.
Unfortunately, our ownership of the area most at risk from erosion isn't wide enough to enable us to re-route the road inland. This means that, at some point in the future, we'll lose vehicle access to the headland, either through the road itself becoming unsafe, or the need to move the coast path onto the road to allow safe pedestrian use.
In the meantime, we're working hard to continue to provide access for as long as it is safe and practical to do so. We will continue working with our neighbours and partners to investigate ways in which Godrevy can be accessed in the future.
Climate change is the greatest threat to the coastline, countryside and historic buildings in our care. Our new report, A Climate for Change: Adaptation and the National Trust, reveals how we’re tackling its causes and effects and identifying future hazards. From protecting and planting trees to nature-friendly farming, helping people, heritage and nature adapt to a changing climate is at the heart of everything we do.
From wildflower meadows to wildlife and cliff erosion, discover how the work of the rangers helps Godrevy to thrive – and how the ponies play their part too.
From first time surfers to veteran hikers, avid seal spotters to intrepid treasure hunters, there’s something to see and do at Godrevy, whatever your interests.
We believe that nature, beauty and history are for everyone. That’s why we’re supporting wildlife, protecting historic sites and more. Find out about our work.
