Case study area 1- the erosional features of the Dorset Coast. Scene setting;- This area lies on the far south coast of England, between the settlements of Lyme Regis and Bournemouth, in the county of Dorset. The sea off the coast is part of the Atlantic Ocean called the English Channel. The area is about 180kms to the SW of London, and the nearest motorway direct to the capital is some 80kms to the northeast, at Southampton. 1
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The climate is mild and relatively dry in comparison to ours, and the area has become an important national holiday destination and a desireable retirement place. Ferries leave from the busy harbour at Poole to France and Spain, and a fishing fleet works out of there too. The physical geography can be divided into two clear zones;- 3
Depositional coastline erosional coastline Depositional coastline 4
1. From Lyme Regis to Portland Bill, and from Bournemouth to the Solent, there can be found depositional coastline, with mostly low clay cliffs and sandy beaches with pronounced Longshore Drift. As a result, it has created sand spits, bars, tombolos The conflicts here revolve around the management of the beach material and controversy abounds as to how the management of one area affects its neighbours. The main conflict centres around Barton-on-sea. 5
Map section A- Chesil Beach and Portland Bill 6
2. From Portland Bill eastwards towards Poole, ending at the town of Swanage. Here there is an erosional coastline, with tall, more resistant chalk cliffs being eventually eroded and weathered to create the features. The conflicts we will investigate will be the management of tourism so that it maximises the economic and social opportunities yet minimises the environmental degradation of the scenery. The main conflict centres around Lulworth Cove. 7
Barton-on-sea Map section B- Bournemouth and Barton-on-sea 8
You will be working with an OS map of this area later in class. LULWORTH COVE 9
Here is the presentation about the Lulworth Cove case study. It starts with an outline of the landscape and some tourism facts Do I have to learn all these facts? No, but any facts that you can quote will gain you ticks in assessments. It s up to you! 10
Conflicts of Land Use in and around the Lulworth Honeypot 11
Lulworth cove : tourism figures About 750,000 people visit Lulworth in a year 35% of them come in six weeks during July and August Only 10 % come during the four winter months November to February 95% of Lulworth s visitors are day vistors The vast majority (over 90%) come by car and coach The Heritage Centre is Dorset s second most visited tourist attraction and its most visited free attraction The footpath between Lulworth and Durdle Door is the busiest 1 mile stretch of the whole 600 mile SW Coastal Path 12
What attracts visitors to Lulworth? It is surrounded by outstanding scenery and wildlife habitats e.g. the Cove, Stair Hole, cliff path views, Durdle Door It is located on the South West Coastal Path The tourist infrastructure includes cafes, hotels, B and B s, ice cream kiosks, heritage centre, various shops, holiday park and youth hostel West Lulworth is a picturesque village with thatched cottages and rural ambiance The nearby fossil forest is an important geological SSSI The classic coastal features are of interest to students of geography and geology 13
What are Land Use Conflicts? Land use conflicts arise when users of the land do not agree on how it should be used: it takes at least two sides to have a conflict. Questions on land use conflicts that they will ask abouta) What land users may be in conflict with one another? b) What actual conflicts arise between these groups? c) How can the conflicts be resolved? d) How successful are the solutions? You are asked to assess or evaluate These questions will be considered in the context of the Lulworth Honeypot 14
Case study of tourism-related conflicts in and around Lulworth 15
Who uses the land around Lulworth? Local Estate Locals Farmers Fishermen Tourists M.O.D. 16
Tourists may be in conflict with some groups, eg- The Ministry of Defence (case study 1) Local people (including Lulworth estate, the major local landowner) (case study 2) Environmentalists (case study 3) 17
The M.O.D. v Tourists Examples of Conflicts: case study 1 Tourists are denied access to large areas around Lulworth for much of the year because of necessary military activity What might the MOD complain about regarding the tourists? 18
Tourists complain about : a) general access difficulties when roads are closed b) restrictions which the ranges impose on walkers 19
M.O.D. resolve the conflict by: Permitting access to the ranges at weekends and busy holiday periods. Keeping roads open during the busiest holiday periods. Noise levels associated with firing are much reduced at these times. The MOD argue that limiting public access has helped to preserve the area and restrict developments which might have made the area less attractive to some tourists. Their access limitations mean that some stretches of the coastline are only accessible to people who are prepared to walk. This helps to preserve quiet stretches on the coastline. Problems of access mean there are fewer visitors. SOLUTION Pros and cons of the solution 20
Examples of Conflicts: case study 2 Tourists v the Local Community Congestion, noise and pollution 21
Local people complain about Congestion : the road to Lulworth Cove is narrow and it is a dead end so this part of the village has to absorb all traffic. Noise and litter : the traditional character of the village is spoiled during the summer tourist months by vehicle noise and indiscriminate litter dropping. Inconsiderate parking : creates access problems 22 for local people
Litter : this creates visual pollution and is a threat to wildlife Visual intrusion : the holiday park which is managed by the Lulworth Estate is unsightly and out of keeping with the landscape 23
Unsightly tourist shops : these are not in keeping with the character of the village. Local people also complain that other shops raise prices during the tourist season. Second homes : many houses are bought as second homes and lie empty for much of the year. House prices become inflated meaning that it is difficult for local people to buy property. 24
Tourist- providers point of view The tourist industry provides employment for local people,brings money and improved services into the local economy. 25
How can some of these problems be solved? A problem with the solution The Lulworth Estate manages a car park which accommodates over 500 vehicles on hard standing and in overflow areas. A mini roundabout has been constructed to provide easy access to the car park. The estate also subsidises a bus service from the local railway station to encourage visitors not to come by car. A benefit of the solution Car parking charges are high. Visitors may choose to avoid this by more indiscriminate parking. 26
The principal local landowner, the Lulworth Estate, uses car park revenue to : a) fund a range of facilities for tourists b) fund conservation schemes e.g. footpath maintenance and grassland management They also employ a number of local people 3 Benefits of solution 27
Examples of Conflicts: case study 3 What is the problem? Farmers v Conservationists High stocking rates threaten chalkland vegetation task Explain the points of view of both farmers and environmentalists. 28
SOLUTION Farmers are encouraged to join schemes such as Countryside Stewardship. Here, farmers receive payments in return for lower stocking rates and for work to restore chalk grassland. They also have to grant educational access to their land. Managed grassland in Scratchy Bottom dry valley Most of the tenant farmers on the Lulworth Estate receive Countryside Stewardship grants. 29
Environmentalists and conservation groups complain that tourists cause.. Tourists v Conservationists Chalk grassland vegetation is very fragile. Trampling reveals thin soils which are easily eroded. Footpath erosion : This is particularly obvious on the path from Lulworth to Durdle Door -one of the most heavily walked paths in Britain The steep slopes above Lulworth and down to Durdle Door increase erosion rates. 30
Resolving the conflicts between tourists and environmentalists SOLUTION Tourist car parking revenue is used by Lulworth Estate to fund : 1. Free admission to the Heritage Centre which offers a range of displays, including interpretative boards to encourage environmental conservation through public education. Also a programme of talks and guided walks 2. The Countryside Ranger Service - two full time rangers employed to undertake a wide range of coastal management duties. 31
3. Footpath maintenance much work has been carried out to halt and prevent further erosion. Lulworth to Durdle Door path been rerouted, reseeded and new waymarking inserted. New timber steps have been built on the steep paths at Durdle Door The existing path has been reinforced with local limestone cobbles and steps 32
Other environmentally friendly policies employed by the estate in its management of tourism. The one ice cream kiosk has to be towed away every night Durdle Door beach is intentionally un-commercial Litter bins are not provided visitors are encouraged to take litter away Climbing on the cliffs is banned to prevent damage to the fragile chalk and limit disturbance to wildlife Fossil collecting is not permitted on the cliffs There are plans to visually screen the holiday park 33
How effective is the path maintenance? Problems with solution Resurfacing encourages more walkers! The whiteness of the path is an unnatural scar on the landscape. Steps are unnatural and walkers often choose to avoid them by walking on the grass verge 34
What could be a solution? RURAL LAND RESOURCES Local landowner v Environmentalists and Local Residents Suggest a problem with this solution. This large and very visible holiday park, run by the Lulworth Estate, is seen by many to be a blot on the 35 landscape
This marks the end of the Lulworth Case study. END 36