Holderness Case Study

Question 1

How far does the Holderness coast span? From where to where?

Answer 1

50km from Flamborough Head in the north to Spurn Point in the south.

Question 2

What material is the cliffs made up of?

Answer 2

In the north, chalk, and to the south, soft boulder clays.

Question 3

What are the natural beaches like? And why?

Answer 3

Narrow and unable to stop wave erosion. Lack of major rivers bringing in new sediment to the budget.

Question 4

What are the beaches like in the summer/winter?

Answer 4

In the summer, they are built up enough for recreational use.

In the winter, they are just a small layer of sand covering the clay.

Question 5

What was the avg prediction for sea level rise in Holderness for the next 50 years?

Answer 5

30cm, so 6mm/year.

Question 6

What has been the previous sea level rise rate in the Holderness coast for the past 100 years?

Answer 6

1-2mm/year.

Question 7

Why is the Holderness coasts sea level rising at a faster pace than previously?

Answer 7

Climate change and a north-easterly prevailing wind.

Question 8

What do the beaches consist of on the Holderness coast?

Answer 8

Shingle and sand from the clay till.

Question 9

How was Spurn Point formed?

Answer 9

Longshore drift transported material south, forming the spit at the mouth of the Humber estuary.

Question 10

How many people did the 2001 and 2011 census’ indicate that Mappleton had?

Answer 10

2001: 249
2011:342

Question 11

Where is Mappleton?

Answer 11

3 miles south of Hornsea, located on the B1242 road, which connects towns along the coastline.

Question 12

What is the importance of the B1242 road?

Answer 12

Provides economic benefits to the locals, as it connects the towns with larger settlements such as Hornsea and Withernsea. It is used by holiday makers in the area and by local farmers for access to rich agricultural land.

Question 13

In what year were sea defences built to save Mappleton from losing 30 homes and the B1242?

Answer 13

1991.

Question 14

What was the rate of erosion before the sea defences were put in?

Answer 14

7-10 m per year on the boulder clay cliffs.

Question 14

How much did the project cost?

Answer 14

£2 million.

Question 14

What sea defences were put in?

Answer 14

Two rock groynes.
A revetment of large granite boulders.
Cliff stabilisation.

Question 15

How did the rock groynes contribute to slowing erosion?

Answer 15

They trap materials carried by waves in lsd.

Question 16

How did the revetment contribute to slowing erosion?

Answer 16

Placed like a wall in a 450m line of defence. Absorbs, doesn’t reflect wave energy using large air spaces between boulders and a broad surface area.

Question 17

Where were the revetment boulders imported from?

Answer 17

Scandinavia and deposited by barge.

Question 18

How did cliff stabilisation contribute to slowing erosion?

Answer 18

Vegetation planted on cliffs further stabilises them from mass movement and reduces the cliffs gradient to prevent undercutting.

Question 19

What was the impact of cliff stabilisation on the erosion along the coast?

Answer 19

It has had a positive impact, managing mass movement as there has been no evidence of slumping over the past 25 years.

Question 20

What was the impact of rock groynes on the erosion along the coast?

Answer 20

Lsd no longer operates along that section of the coast.
It has created a larger, sandier beach for Mappleton, meaning at high tide, waves don’t even reach the cliffs.

Question 21

What was the impact of the revetment on erosion along the coast?

Answer 21

Successful in restricting waves from attacking the base of the cliffs.

Question 22

What was the beneficial result of the scheme?

Answer 22

No properties have been lost to the sea and the B1242 remains safe.

Question 23

What are some downsides to the scheme?

Answer 23

The area directly south of the village now suffers from larger amounts of erosion and terminal groyne syndrome (when beaches have very little sediment and during low tide, exposes sand and clay boulders that have been eroded from the cliffs).
This has led to increased slumping and erosion.

Question 24

What were erosion rates at Mappleton before the sea defences were put in?

Answer 24

0.6m/year (1952-1989).

Question 25

What did erosion rates rise to just south of Mappleton following the placement of sea defences?

Answer 25

0.8m/year (1989-2005).

Question 26

Name three issues associated with coastal erosion.

Answer 26

(Any 3 of the following)
Loss of farmland.
Loss of animal habitats.
Flooding.
Loss of tourism.
Loss of homes.
Loss of local businesses.

Question 27

In what direction does longshore drift operate along the Holderness coast?

Answer 27

South.

Question 28

What does the East Riding of Yorkshire SMP say about intervention at Flamborough Head?

Answer 28

It requires ‘no active intervention’ because of the more resistant chalk in the north allows the headland to erode much slower than in the south where there is softer glacial till.

Question 29

What is the average loss of land per year on the coast of the Holderness plain?

Answer 29

1.6m/year, but up to 2m/year in extreme conditions.

Question 30

What are some economic benefits of the scheme?

Answer 30

It allows local businesses to remain and thrive.
Allows the B1242 road to remain, which brings in tourism.
Cheaper to put in sea defences than to rebuild 30 homes and a main road.
Agricultural land will be untouched behind Mappleton, which maximises output.

Question 31

What are some social benefits of the scheme?

Answer 31

Locals will not lose their homes or their businesses.
Decrease in stress/anxiety levels for locals.

Question 32

What are some environmental benefits of the scheme?

Answer 32

Biodiversity on the beach/cliffs will increase.
Prevents damage to the land.

Question 33

What are some economic disadvantages of the scheme?

Answer 33

Agricultural land south of Mappleton has been sacrificed, which reduces output for local farmers.
Groynes require upkeep maintenance.
Businesses south of Mappleton will be at risk of being lost to the sea.

Question 34

What are some social disadvantages of the scheme?

Answer 34

Businesses and homes south of Mappleton are at risk due to increased rates of erosion.

Question 35

What are some environmental disadvantages of the scheme?

Answer 35

Damage to the land further south of Mappleton will occur.
Erosion will increase further south.