Dawlish Warren

Question 1

What is Dawlish Warren

Answer 1

A seaside resort located on the south coast of Devon, at the mouth of the River Exe. It is south of Exeter and between the towns of Dawlish and Exmouth

Question 2

How is Dalwush Warren was formed and the most influential factors in its change

Answer 2

1. As the fetch and prevailing winds are from the south-west, material will be moved eastwards along the coast past Dawlish by longshore drift
2. After Langstone Rock the direction of the original coastline changes as we enter the Exe Estuary. Larger material (shingle) was deposited in water sheltered by the headland
3. Further deposition of finer material (sand) enabled the spit to build up slowly to sea-level and to extend its length
4. Occasionally, the wind changes its direction (e.g. comes from the east). This, in turn, causes the waves to alter their direction (e.g. approach from the south-east). During this time some material at the end of the spit may be pushed inland to form a curved end. When the wind returns to its usual direction, the spit resumes its growth eastward
5. The spit became permanent when sand was blown up the beach, by the prevailing wind, to form sand-dunes (now part of the Nature Reserve). (before WW”, there were chalets on the end of spit)
6. Saltmarsh had developed in the sheltered water behind the spit towards Starcross
7. The spit is unable to grow across the estuary towards Exmouth as the current of the river Exe carries material out to sea leading to sandbanks parallel to the shore at Exmouth (Pole Sands), attracting kite surfers. (If there was nob river, the spit may grow across the bay form a bar)
8. Unfortunately, the stone groyne built at Langstone Rock to protect Dawlish and the railway, is preventing new material moving east so the spit at Dawlish Warren is vulnerable to version. (Human intervention)

Question 3

I know how people and the environment interact at Dawlish Warren tourism, fishing industry, nature reserve, residents, transportation, recreational activities

Answer 3

○ Seaside resort- mainstay of local econmy with its miltiplaier effects. Tourists accommodation tends to be bedget holidays, ranging from tents and caravan sites to several holiday parks. Attracts over 800 000 extra people in the summer, particularly from West midlands and South Wales (20 000 per day). Tourists can also enjoy the family fun and entertainment facilities behind and beach.
○ 1.5 mile of sandy beach - Blue Flag for 16th year = good quality for bathing water and beach facilities
○ Golf course- 18 holes
○ Nature Reserve - 500 acres - became a Nationa Nature Reserve in 2 000. Also a Site of Special Interest (SSSI) due to over 600 species of flowering plants including the rare Warren Crocus. Important as a resting place for over 23 000 migrating wildfowl and wading birds including avocet
○ The Dawlish Warren economy relies heavily on tourism, and in particular on the many caravan and camping parks in the village which add over 15 000 to the local population during the summer months. There are several holiday parks which attract visitors from all over the UK, but in particular the West Midlands and South Wales
○ The fishing industry is historically and culturally important aspect of the Exe, providing locally caught fresh seafood. Muscles are harvested in the calm waters behind the spit. There is also the potential to sort by distance from his waters
○ This is a popular tourist destination the tourist resort on the warren attrats 480 000 visitors each year mostly during the summer months when visitor numbers can reach 20 000 each day
○ The area served by a wide range of public transport, including trains, buses and ferries. There is a car park in the west end of the spirit, but no surface roads; footpaths and tracks allow easy access to the beach. In summer, visitors can arrive by hovercraft at the eastern end of the spit
○ The spit has been assigned to a few residential properties and a number of small number of small businesses that provide goods for tourists in jobs for local people (about 13% of local employment is through seaside tourism)
○The Exe estuary is popular for water-based recreational activities including sailing, windsurfing kitesurfing and water-siing jet skiing and kayaking. Locals and visitors wasn’t you to spit for walking them playing golf with a growing tourist industry and important fishing industry pressure on the Dawlish warren sand spit is likely to increase. A major problem is the increasing risk of erosion and flooding