2. 1 – Designing fieldwork and research to examine the risk of
coastal erosion in Cuckmere Haven
The Seven Sisters
Country Park
offers some of the
finest coastal
downland views in
the whole of the
UK. It also
contains a wide
range of habitats
with a fantastic
array of
associated
wildlife.
Seaford
Cuckmere
Haven
Beachy
Head
Cuckmere Haven lies on the
coast at the point where the
South Downs meet the sea.
Its dramatic chalk landscape
with a characteristic cliff
coastline is constantly
changing. The cliffs are being
eroded at a rate of 30-40
cm’s every year. Cuckmere's
quiet beach is located within
the Seven Sisters Country
Park.
The location of Cuckmere Haven was chosen due to it’s proximity to school (i.e.
fieldwork could be carried out in a day), accessibility (the beach can be reached with
little risk), it is an area where erosion is / has taken place (therefore we will be able to
investigate the risk)
3. 1 – Describing and justifying methods and techniques used to
collect fieldwork and research data
2 – Describing and justifying the techniques used to present and
analyse findings
3 – Commenting on the data and conclusions found in Cuckmere
Haven, as well as evaluating limitations
4 – How could secondary data improve our study
4. 2 – Describing and justifying methods and techniques used to
collect fieldwork and research data
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Fieldwork
Field sketch – This gave evidence of
undercutting of the chalk cliffs and
therefore erosion
Annotated photo’s – This gave evidence
of erosion of cliffs (i.e. fences and walls
ending on cliffs due to erosion, comparing
last years photos) and effectiveness of
groynes
Transects – These can be done
systematic / stratified, they show changes
in the gradient of the beach profile and
pebble size / roundness
Wave measurement – Showed the
frequency and size of waves
Groynes – Measuring the sides of groynes
tells us how effective they are.
Museum – Gave us information on
previous rates of erosion and rock types.
It did this through information boards and
selections of old photographs and maps
Research
• Old photo’s – Give us an idea
of how the coastline looked at
a certain time. We can
therefore see the change.
• Old maps – We can see how
the shape of the coastline has
changed and therefore the
rate of erosion.
• Newspapers – Could give us
information about past events
– cliff falls etc
5. Methodology Table
Data Collected
Why it was collected
How it was
collected
Annotated photos
and field sketches
To record evidence of
erosion
By finding a
suitable location
and an area
showing evidence
of erosion
Beach profiles
To see key characteristics -Systematic
of beach profile
-Stratified
Equipment Used
Limitations
Justifications
Digital camera
Often only a limited Provides a visual reminder
view of the
of what the coastline
coastline as a whole looked like, can also be
annotated to point out key
features
Ranging poles
Clinometer
Depend on
sampling method
Depend on sampling
method
To see changes in pebble 10 pebbles – long
characteristics
axis measured /
estimate angularity
Wave frequency and To see the types of
Timing the number
height
waves hitting the coast
in 1 min, estimate
height
Groyne
To see the effectiveness Measure either
measurement
of the groynes
side of the groynes
Calliper
Angularity chart
Estimation of
angularity
10 – to have average
Stop watch
Estimate for the
height
Timing done 3 times average
Meter stick
Annotated photos were
used in these locations to
supplement results
Bi-polar survey and
management tally
sheet
Bi-polar
Management
tally sheet
Often uneven, but
we could only
measure at one
point on the
groynes
Opinion based for
the bi-polar
Pebble size and
shape
To see the
Bi-polar
environmental quality of Management tally
the area and whether it sheet
changed depending on
where you were. Also to
see what was being done
to manage the area and
therefore its success
Bi-polar scores all taken for
the same categories
6. 3 – Describing and justifying the techniques used to present and
analyse findings
• Transects – Can be made into beach profiles to show
changes in more than one variable along the beach
(e.g. gradient and pebble size, shape)
• Photo’s and sketches – Can be annotated to show
key / important features
• GIS / Maps – Can be annotated with findings to locate
changes and find overall patterns – e.g. if the transects
change along the length of the beach due to longshore
drift or wave refraction / shelter or groynes)
• Flow diagrams / Mind maps – Could be used to show
effectiveness of coastal defences (i.e. with dates /
timeline)
8. 4 – Commenting on the data and conclusions found in Cuckmere
Haven, as well as evaluating limitations
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Transects –
• Beach profile to have a ‘storm beach’ (steep ridge). These are formed by strong, destructive
waves indicating high risk from erosion.
• Pebbles were unsorted in size and angularity, there was also much driftwood / material on the
beach. This indicates strong wave energy had left us with little pattern to show longshore
drift / sorting.
• Waves were frequent and strong indicating high risk from erosion
Annotated photos / sketches – showed erosion was taking place and gave evidence for high risk,
especially at the base of the cliffs.
Groynes – Measuring on either side of the groynes showed that they were trapping large amounts of
sediment from longshore drift. They are therefore effective as well as being required. They have had an
impact reducing the risk (along with the sea wall in front of the houses)
Old photos / Maps – Gave evidence that erosion has taken place on this stretch of coast.
Geology – Chalk cliffs (which could be seen in the lighter sea colour around them) are at risk from erosion
Management of coast – It has beach replenishment / groynes / rip rap in Seaford and groynes / sea wall in
Cuckmere Haven. These seem effective in reducing rates of erosion although only in the areas they are
located. E.g. cost / benefit – around housing / towns
http://www.sdcg.org.uk/
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SMP -
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Limitations – Wider stretch of coast to examine would have given a better overall picture of erosion and
the impact of management strategies. Dates of old photos, newspapers and maps at more regular
intervals would have helped us understand the change more easily
9. Conclusions for impacts on an
ecologically important area
• Bi-polar survey showed that area within the Seven Sisters
Country Park (Cuckmere Haven) has a much higher quality
than areas outside it (Seaford)
• Management strategies tally sheet shows that this is because
it is very well managed with a large number and variety of
strategies
• However – we did not visit in peak season which would
almost certainly have influenced our results
• Research (http://www.sevensisters.org.uk/) shows the area is
well managed and very bio-diverse
10. The use of technology
• Digital cameras – for annotated photos
• Video cameras – for filming techniques in the
field or something taking place. E.g. wave
action
• GIS – can be used to plan field trips and also
present data sets on maps
• GPS – to locate sites / features
• Internet – researching fieldwork
