The National Trust has today published a South West update to its Shifting Shores research of 2005, which starkly highlights the danger posed by climate change to the Purbeck coastline.

The original research looked at the long-term future of the coastline in the Trust’s care, and the impact that climate change was going to have, through sea level rise, coastal flooding and increased erosion.

In the South West, 279 kilometres of National Trust coastline could be affected by increased erosion along with 852 hectares of Trust coastal sites becoming at risk of tidal flooding.

At Studland, for example, all visitor facilities including car parks, information centre, catering and retail outlets are seriously threatened by storm events and coastal erosion. All 258 beach huts are also extremely vulnerable. Initial estimates indicate relocating the facilities could cost around £3.6 million.

The lagoon on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour is also at risk as if sea levels continue to rise as it would become inundated with sea water, losing a significant habitat for many species of over-wintering and migrating birds.

Brendan McCarthy, National Trust Director for Wessex explains why this is so important:

We are very keen to share what we have learnt with others, as what the Trust is facing will be mirrored across much of the UK’s coast. There is a host of public- and private-sector organisations and individuals with a stake in the future of our coast. Everyone needs to wake up to coastal change, and begin planning coordinated responses on how to adapt to the inevitability of sea-level rise before it is forced upon us.

Musician Billy Bragg is a National Trust volunteer on the coast in Dorset and says

It’s so important to raise public awareness of changes we as volunteers are seeing on coast due to climate change to help encourage politicians to tackle this issue more directly.