Pocket Full Of Acorns

http://pocketfullofacorns.com

SUBJECT: Attn: Visitor – Coastal Erosion and Flood Risk Solution Debate.

Dear Visitor

                                                  You may be interested in the output from a recent meeting held with coastal stakeholders in Happisburgh, where the shore is currently receding at up to 12 metres a year.

Attention was drawn principally to community-based revegetation of shorelines which has been applied successfully in New Zealand to every type of coastal terrain similar to those found in the UK and subject to similar erosive forces.

An additional rationale for a UK pilot demonstration was presented in terms of providing proof-of-concept for the establishment of a new, UK-led green global economy which would provide sustainable growth, whilst restoring the environment and natural resource base.

cost-effective and lasting coastal defences.

Coastal Erosion Meeting Output of Proposed Bio-barrier Solution To Coastal Erosion, Drought and Flooding

the PDF can be downloaded or viewed here: http://bit.ly/erosionmeeting

The report contains links to the full presentations that were made to 70 stakeholders at the Happisburgh meeting, references to the documented methods, offer of support and evidenced arguments for obtaining permission to conduct a pilot demonstration of the methods.

In New Zealand the Government has produced DIY Coastal Planting Guides which show applicability to a complete range of coastlines similar to our own. New Zealand has a climate similar to the UK and is subject to storms equal to those on the East coast. Yet vegetation is working well to counteract coastal erosion.

http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/index.cfm?AB0AB754-14C2-3D2D-B9E8-0489233AE87C

The Important Role of Trees in Combating Coastal Erosion, Wind and Salt Spray – a New Zealand Case Study

• In the NZ example use of trees to combat effects of coastal erosion, whether due to human factors, wind storms or waves has been able to both fix the sites and create a valuable commercial resource

• Natural processes have been mimicked above the shore-line to hold new sand drifts and provide shelter for more valuable lands and infrastructure.
• Once drift of new sand of the beaches was stopped inland sites were stabilised with marram grass and yellow tree lupin, before a commercial crop of planted forest was established.

http://www.fao.org/forestry/11283-0f0bb329900ba7bdfd3d31af07f337f85.pdf

Barton Highcliffe in Dorset was once a rapidly eroding 35 metre cliff much the same as Naish Farm, which remains unprotected. Barton Highcliffe has not eroded in 25 years, yet Naish Farm which is on the same cliff exhibits predictable erosion.

A cliff slope must be at an angle that can disperse wave action. So must the gabions, here is an image of vertically placed gabions. Picture these gabions laying on an angle against the sloping cliff.

Angles steeper than 45 degrees will cause gabions to fall forward where slumping takes place.

A gentleman at the meeting who witnessed the 1953 floods first-hand is convinced that this would have provided sound protection against the incoming waves. Each wave descending back down the slope would have opposed the next wave. Vegetation roots entwined in the rocks and debris in the gabions would afford even greater strength and durability, and trees would further sap wave energy.

S.O.S.

Save Our Shores, Save The Planet

We need your help to make this happen!   People Power is an underestimated resource, capable of incredible things when we work together for a better environment.   Pocket Full Of Acorns project asks the media to involve the public to germinate seeds, collect young trees and supply the tools and labour. This works well !

Bryony Neirop-Reading   Shows how serious the coastal erosion is in Happisburgh   The cliff is a few metres from her home   Bryony has asked for people to join her in building a new proactive coastal group   Contact: 01692651691 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Elberry Cove, Broadsands and Marridge Woods in Torbay is staggeringly beautiful

Predominantly mature Sycamore at the immediate shoreline with a wide variety of  tree species, including beech, holly, maple, ash, gorse, holm oak, pines, black thorn, hawthorn,   thriving without any need for maintenance.

I am sure that you will agree with us that this not only looks fantastic and provides a host of benefits to wildlife, tourism & recreation,  the trees produce oxygen, cool the planet, recycle carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into useful timber products for generations to come and shield us from the storm surges by subduing wave action - after all these trees have stood against the elements for a very long time - but we believe that coastal woodlands are also the very key to reversing climate change and ending droughts, famine and floods.

Concrete, cement, bricks, iron, sand bags, soil banks and logs have all been used to shore up our coastline and protect vulnerable communities and with some degree of succsess. However with austerity measures forced upon us can we expect governments to keep funding maintenance and repairs as they crumble over the years?

A natural living sea defence does not diminish with age, it does in fact become much stronger as the years pass. So strong in fact that many coastal woodlands and forests withstood the full force of the 1994 tsunami.

The role of coastal forests in the mitigation of tsunami impacts Keith Forbes and Jeremy Broadhead

http://www.fao.org/forestry/14561-09bf06569b748c827dddf4003076c480c.pdf