At Middle Beach in Studland, Dorset, a major transformation is underway as old sea defences are being removed to restore the beach’s natural landscape. Since early September, heavy machinery has been dismantling ageing structures intended to hold back the sea. This ambitious project aims to return the beach to nature, creating a safer environment for rare reptiles that have been temporarily relocated.
The deconstruction has unexpectedly become a popular out-of-season attraction, drawing numerous visitors eager to observe and photograph the process. National Trust project officer Kelly Marshall remarks, “We’ve seen lines of people gathering behind cordons, captivated by the work in progress.”
Though the physical removal of the sea defences is expected to conclude by mid-October, it may take up to a year before the beach fully reopens to visitors. During this period, the Middle Beach car park remains accessible, along with several local businesses including a café, seaweed baths, and canoe hire. Walkers can still navigate between Middle Beach, Knoll Beach, and other parts of Studland.
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Computer models predict that parts of the shoreline will naturally collapse, carrying sand and gravel toward nearby Knoll Beach and Shell Bay. This process will create a reshaped sandy bay, allowing natural coastal dynamics to resume. Materials from the dismantled defences—including thousands of tonnes of stone, concrete, and metal baskets—are being recycled or repurposed, with some used for infill at Suttles Quarry.
Significantly, large stone blocks from the Second World War will remain on the shoreline, preserved for their historical value. Additionally, a seed bank of native plants has been carefully collected and will be reintroduced once the landscape is restored to a gentler 1 in 12 slope. This transformation will reduce former cliffs and terraces, promoting a more natural habitat.
Ecologists have played a vital role throughout the project, relocating sand lizards and slow worms ahead of the work, and remaining on site to protect any other wildlife discovered.
The National Trust emphasizes that removing the hard structures is a necessary response to accelerating coastal erosion driven by climate change. Sarah Coggins, National Trust Coast & Marine Adviser, explains, “Hard defences like gabion baskets disrupt the natural alignment of the coastline. Waves bounce off these structures and erode the sand in front, submerging the beach at high tide and limiting access.”
By removing the defences, the beach will be able to replenish naturally with sandy material from the cliffs. While the initial changes may seem dramatic, projections show that over the next 20 years the shoreline will settle into a gentler, more resilient slope—better equipped to withstand future climate impacts and to safeguard nearby facilities.