Folkestone is going to be the site for our fieldwork investigation this year. It is an excellent example of a stretch of coastline managed in a variety of ways.
When we visit, you will need to think about:
1. Why does the local authority spend money defending Folkestone from the sea?
2. How is Folkestone defended from both erosion and flooding?
3. How effective are the methods used to defend Folkestone?
Where is Folkestone?
As geographers, you should start off by finding out where Folkestone is. Google Maps is a good place to start (see below), but you should make sure you zoom out to get an idea of where Folkestone is in the UK. If you are showing where Folkestone is in your writing, it is a good idea to use different scales of map to show Folkestone in the UK, as well as a map of the local area.
A map of Folkestone
Portions of this page are reproduced from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License
Who protects Folkestone?
Next, as we are investigating coastal protection, it would be a good idea to find out who protects the coast at Folkestone. As you will know from studying coastal engineering and management in your lessons, defending the coast is expensive, and so lots of agencies (groups) tend to be involved.
Along the coast of Folkestone, the following groups help defend the coast:
- DEFRA the government department that oversees who manages the coast and how.
- The Environment Agency, which oversees the SMP (Shoreline Management Plan) along the the stretch of coast that includes Folkestone (SMP 12).
- Shepway District Council, which is the Lead Local Authority for SMP 12, making sure that it is carried out.
Using the SMP, these agencies will have decided on one of the options below:
Advance the line (build sea defences in front of those already there)
Hold the line (maintain defences where they are)
Managed Realignment (build defences further back and allow the sea to move inland)
Do nothing (exactly that)
This map shows you what decisions have been made.
The coastline at Folkestone has been protected using both hard engineering and soft engineering methods. When we go to look at these, you will need to know what they are, what they look like and how they work.
Why does Folkestone need protecting?
As you should remember, there are two main reasons for defending the coast:
1. Coastal erosion - The mix of soft clays and greensands along this stretch of coast means erosion has always been a problem (Folkestone lost 5 churches to erosion before the Norman invasion of 1066). It continues to be a problem along the coast at Folkestone, with landslips at Folkestone Warren and Samphire Hoe. Material is also lost from the beaches due to sediment transportation.
2. Rising sea levels and coastal flooding - The area has some of the homes at greatest risk from flooding in the country.
You should also remember that the coast will only be defended if it is economically worthwhile. The management of the coast at Folkestone is based on the value and use of the land.
Some images of Folkestone
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| Source: Penny Mayes [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons |
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| Photo credit: Sebastian Maier |
