Photo 16 (Return)

Cliff failures near The Landslip, Dunnose. A major landslide reactivation in February 1995 resulted in a continuing loss of cliff top land. Instability is generated initially by toe erosion of 40m high sea cliffs of Gault Clay underlain by weak sandstones and overlain by massive sandstones of the Upper Greensand and Chalk. Failures are probably triggered by elevated ground water levels. Eastern parts of Bonchurch are potentially threatened, but there are no economic ground stabilisation measures that can be undertaken at this location, therefore the management policy is one of monitoring and avoidance of risk.