Photo 5 (Return)

Highcliffe, 2001. Beginning in the 1970s, a series of protection measures have been implemented to achieve a full cliff stabilisation by 1985 of the eroding Barton Clay cliffs that otherwise would have threatened the cliff top residential developments. Stabilisation involved the following elements (i) coastal defences and beach management to protect the cliff toes; (ii) regrading and drainage of the slopes to reduce instability and (iii) introduction of vegetation upon the regraded slopes to inhibit gullying and improve drainage. In stabilising these cliffs, the natural supply of sands and plateau gravels from the cliffs has been halted and upper beach drift is largely controlled.