An early morning visit to coincide with a predicted high tide, was initially disappointing. The High tide was lower than predicted and not reaching the base of the cliffs.
Starting at the Benacre end - the recent high tides had down two things - resealed the breach in the sand bar (see last blog) and had dumped a lot more sand onto the beach at the northern end
Sandbar now resealed ................................
However as I walked down along the cliffs it became evident that significant erosion had once again took place since the last visit
At the Kessingland end of the benacre broad - several more Sliver Birch trees have been lost, the cliff face been cleaned ,
but an Oak tree is now only 3 feet from the Hide tide mark ! - indeed its trunk has already been reached and passed by some high tide debris
Walking back south along the beach the start of the low cliffs have been eroded and a large log now hangs partlly over the edge
Significant regular erosion continues at the high cliff area south of the road - clearly illustrated by even more of the water pipe now being visible
At the south end of the cliffs the sand bar has also been resealed but there has been clear "overtopping" as previous tufts of marram grass and sand hills have been washed away. In effect widening the sand bar , and eating into the path and reed beds
Walking back on top of the cliffs there are clears signs of up to 10mtrs of cliff have been eroded since the field was harvested during the summer. Closer inspection reveals cracks in the soil of fresh falls waiting to happen !!
The angled hedgerow gives the opportunity to record its position to the cliff face to monitor the rate of future erosion
Further images can be found on the Covehithe Coastam Erosion site
