Case Study of Coastal Erosion - Flamborough Head and Holderness Coast
Background and the Problem of Erosion
-The Holderness Coast is on the NE coast of the UK, facing the North Sea.
- It extends 60km from Flamborough in the north to Spurn Point in the south.
- Coastline mainly made up of cliffs (20-30m high), made of soft, easily eroded boulder clay.
- Where the cliff line meets the Humber Estuary, a spit has formed due to the change in the
direction of the coastline - Spurn Head.
-The cliff line is retreating at an alarming rate - greater than 1.5m/year (fastest rate in
Europe) around 2 million tonnes of material every year
- 4km of land have been lost since Roman Times, including villages + farm buildings
-Easington Gas Station (N Sea Gas terminal) is located on cliffs top, its position under threat.
-Spurn Point, a spit in the S, is increasingly at risk (erosion) and is 5km long and covers 1.5km2
- Spurn Point is important to protect from erosion, because it is a designated National Nature
Reserve, Heritage Coast and Special Protection Area.
-The landward-side mudflats are an important feeding ground for wading birds
-The RNLI lifeboat station at Spurn Point, built in 1810, is very important for the safety of
shipping in the area and is at a vital location along the Humber Estuary, which is a busy
shipping route.
-Humber Vessel traffic service located on the spit, operates 24-hour service for river users.
- major function is to monitor and regulate navigation of those parts of the Humber Estuary
and Rivers Ouse and Trent.
