How does the coastal management in the south (main
beach) of Folkestone vary from the east (warren),
what are the reasons behind it and what are its
impacts?
,Introduction:
Coastlines are one of the most important environments for the UK due to it being an island nation.
They have both advantages and disadvantages as not only do they provide good economic,
environmental, and social benefits but they also are an economic challenge to maintain. It is
undeniable that coasts are a huge part of the UK and because of this they need to be protected and
preserved.
As part of my coursework, I have set out to investigate how the Folkestone main beach (south)
varies from the Warren at the east of Folkestone, what are the reasons behind it and how they
impact social, economic as well as environmental aspects both nationally and locally.
I picked Folkestone coast as I have previously studied the coast of Dorset as well as Holderness and
its coastal management therefore, I think would be very beneficial to study my local area that not
only has a very deep and interesting history behind it as well as historic national importance through
its port which was a phenomenon in the 19 th and 20th century to multinational transport links over
Channel La Manche and put my existing coastline knowledge to the test.
Figure 1: a map of
the UK with arrow
pointing to the
location of
Folkestone.
Source: Google
,Figure 2: map of
Folkestone, Kent,
United Kingdom
Source: Google Maps
, Where I studied:
I studied two areas of the Folkestone, Kent coastline. It is located at the southeast of the UK with
both beaches being within the Folkestone town region. At both locations I conducted a wave count,
pebble roundness test, beach profile and the orange drift test. Location 1 which is the Folkestone
main beach. It is much closer to the actual town of Folkestone therefore, having greater economic
value. Location 2, Folkestone Warren (the east beach) is more of an environmental and natural
phenomenon according to WoodlandTrust.org.uk which states that “Folkestone Warren is one of
Britain’s most important places for wildlife and is a protected Site of Specific Scientific Interest and
Local Nature Reserve.” Therefore, Folkestone Warren is environmentally beneficial with
environmental priorities rather than financial objectives.
Folkestone is a port to the Channel La Manche which played an incredibly large and important role in
the 19th and 20th century therefore, resulted in high amounts of coastal management present in that
area like for example, sea wall and beach nourishment. Lying with the English Channel the coastline
receives constructive waves due to the fetch of the waves being smaller (50.46 km) therefore, waves
travelling smaller distances meaning they are unlikely to build up and cause destruction. I will
investigate how the coastal management varies along Folkestone coast, what are the reasons behind
it and the impacts that this has socially, environmentally, and economically.
Figure 3: The navy circle showing the
location 1: Folkestone main beach
and the red circle showing location 2
The Warren
Source: Google maps.
Figure 4: the purple line
(line at the top) is showing
the location of the Warren
whereas, the pink line (the
one at the bottom) is
showing the location of
Folkestone main beach.
Source: Google maps
beach) of Folkestone vary from the east (warren),
what are the reasons behind it and what are its
impacts?
,Introduction:
Coastlines are one of the most important environments for the UK due to it being an island nation.
They have both advantages and disadvantages as not only do they provide good economic,
environmental, and social benefits but they also are an economic challenge to maintain. It is
undeniable that coasts are a huge part of the UK and because of this they need to be protected and
preserved.
As part of my coursework, I have set out to investigate how the Folkestone main beach (south)
varies from the Warren at the east of Folkestone, what are the reasons behind it and how they
impact social, economic as well as environmental aspects both nationally and locally.
I picked Folkestone coast as I have previously studied the coast of Dorset as well as Holderness and
its coastal management therefore, I think would be very beneficial to study my local area that not
only has a very deep and interesting history behind it as well as historic national importance through
its port which was a phenomenon in the 19 th and 20th century to multinational transport links over
Channel La Manche and put my existing coastline knowledge to the test.
Figure 1: a map of
the UK with arrow
pointing to the
location of
Folkestone.
Source: Google
,Figure 2: map of
Folkestone, Kent,
United Kingdom
Source: Google Maps
, Where I studied:
I studied two areas of the Folkestone, Kent coastline. It is located at the southeast of the UK with
both beaches being within the Folkestone town region. At both locations I conducted a wave count,
pebble roundness test, beach profile and the orange drift test. Location 1 which is the Folkestone
main beach. It is much closer to the actual town of Folkestone therefore, having greater economic
value. Location 2, Folkestone Warren (the east beach) is more of an environmental and natural
phenomenon according to WoodlandTrust.org.uk which states that “Folkestone Warren is one of
Britain’s most important places for wildlife and is a protected Site of Specific Scientific Interest and
Local Nature Reserve.” Therefore, Folkestone Warren is environmentally beneficial with
environmental priorities rather than financial objectives.
Folkestone is a port to the Channel La Manche which played an incredibly large and important role in
the 19th and 20th century therefore, resulted in high amounts of coastal management present in that
area like for example, sea wall and beach nourishment. Lying with the English Channel the coastline
receives constructive waves due to the fetch of the waves being smaller (50.46 km) therefore, waves
travelling smaller distances meaning they are unlikely to build up and cause destruction. I will
investigate how the coastal management varies along Folkestone coast, what are the reasons behind
it and the impacts that this has socially, environmentally, and economically.
Figure 3: The navy circle showing the
location 1: Folkestone main beach
and the red circle showing location 2
The Warren
Source: Google maps.
Figure 4: the purple line
(line at the top) is showing
the location of the Warren
whereas, the pink line (the
one at the bottom) is
showing the location of
Folkestone main beach.
Source: Google maps
