At Middle Beach in Studland, Dorset, the removal of old sea defences has unexpectedly turned into a popular out-of-season spectacle. Since early September, heavy machinery has been dismantling failing coastal structures in a project aimed at restoring the beach’s natural environment and supporting rare reptile habitats.
To facilitate the work, protected species such as sand lizards and slow worms were carefully relocated by licensed ecologists. Visitors have been drawn in by the dramatic transformation, with many stopping to watch and photograph the progress behind safety cordons.
Although the primary phase of construction is expected to conclude by mid-October, the National Trust anticipates it may take up to a year before the beach is deemed safe and fully accessible to the public again. In the meantime, the Middle Beach car park remains open to support local small businesses, including a café, seaweed bathing services, and canoe hire. Visitors can still walk along the edge of Middle Beach toward Knoll Beach and the wider Studland area.
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Computer models indicate that sections of the former sea defences will collapse naturally into the sea, redistributing sand and gravel to nearby Knoll Beach and Shell Bay. This process will create a newly shaped sandy bay, enhancing the coastal landscape. Materials removed—including metal baskets, stone, and concrete—are being recycled or repurposed, with some used for infill at Suttles Quarry. Notably, large World War II-era stone blocks lining the shoreline will be preserved for their historical value.
A ‘seed bank’ of native plant material has been secured and will be replanted once the beach’s deconstruction is complete, helping to restore a more natural, gradual slope and reduce the prominence of former cliff faces and terraces.
The project responds directly to accelerated coastal erosion caused by climate change, with cliffs having been known to collapse up to four meters overnight. According to Sarah Coggins, National Trust Coast & Marine Adviser, hard structures like gabion baskets have altered the natural shoreline alignment. “When waves hit the gabions, they bounce off, eroding the sand in front and often submerging the beach at high tide, making it inaccessible,” she explains.
By removing these artificial defences, the beach can naturally replenish with sediment from the cliffs. While the initial changes may appear drastic, projections suggest the coastline will reshape into a gentler slope over the next 20 years, increasing its resilience to climate impacts and providing better protection for facilities near the car park.