Dawlish Warren is a spit located in Devon, England that is actively managed to prevent erosion. The spit is formed from sand and shingle eroded from Langstone Rock and transported down coast by longshore drift. Vegetation and engineering structures like revetments, sea walls, groynes and rock armor have been installed to stabilize the spit and protect infrastructure like a car park, promenade and lifeboat ramp. Ongoing management includes replanting marram grass, fencing off rehabilitation plots, and using soft techniques like Christmas trees to encourage sand accretion.

1. Dawlish
Warren
CASE
STUDY
Process
Erosion
Management

2. The Process and location
Dawlish Warren

3. •The source of material – Langstone Rock
Can you identify
joints,
lines of weakness,
wave cut platform,
notch?

4. Can you see Langstone rock in the
distance?

5. The line of the spit on the offshore side
towards the River Exe

6. Along the crest

7. Different size beach material gradually
builds up to consolidate the feature

8. Inshore, vegetation plays an
important role to stabilise the sand

9. Small meres appear with brackish water

10. The town of Exmouth across the estuary

11. Modification by Humans
Dawlish Warren

12. At the proximal end buildings
occupy the crest line [car park]

13. From the car park to the spit
visitors are ‘led’ by boardwalk

14. Foot erosion is evident aroung
picnic benches …

15. … or where corners have been cut off

16. Railway sleepers used on the
onshore side to direct tourists

17. In some places even vehicles have contributed

18. The key to conservation is to re-establish
Marram grass that binds together the sand
and promotes soil development.

19. Left alone a thick mat builds up

20. Beside the path, experimental plots
have been fenced off at different ages

21. The contrast between the areas is evident

22. Other uses – golf course

23. Dog Walking - note the barrier to
stop ‘ridge walking’

24. Management
Dawlish Warren

25. Revetment process at the proximal end

26. Lifeboat ramp for rescue users

27. Promenade opened in 1993

28. Promenade, sea wall and rock
armour

29. Rock armour used to protect the old sea wall, can
you identify any other ‘important’ users?

30. Good view
from the
railway bridge
of wall, rock
armour and
supply of
material

31. Sea wall with re-curve

32. Built in sections, the toe is
protected with granite blocks

33. Groynes toward the distal end

34. Below the
sand gabions
have been
used to
encourage
the sand to
stabilise

35. These have been eroded away
particularly at path corner

36. Soft Engineering – reused
Christmas trees

37. The wind blows through sand pitching and building up to
bury them. Eventually they should bio-degrade

38. Dawlish
Warren