MARINE AND COASTAL EDUCATION PACK - KS2
Teacher’s notes
ACTIVITY 6: Coastal Environments and Habitats Along the Dorset Coast
Before attempting to complete these activities it would be best to make the pupils aware
of Activity 5: Coastal Processes.
The Dorset Coast is made up of a variety of coastal environments that have been carved out,
laid down or changed by natural processes and human activity. The variety of coastal
environments and habitats along Dorset makes it home to an array of plants and animals.
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Location of Environments and Habitats along the Dorset Coast
Activity 6: Coastal Environments and Habitats along the Dorset Coast – Teacher’s Notes
Marine and Coastal Education Pack 2008
5
(Use these notes to assist with the discussion of the coastal images, found on PowerPoint file)
Area
What it is
Some questions to ask
1.
Hengistbury Head
Headland
▪ Hengistbury Head is a headland jutting into
the English Channel between Bournemouth
and Christchurch
▪ At the end of the headland is a spit, which
creates the narrow entrance to
Christchurch Harbour
▪ Hengistbury Head today is used for a
variety of reasons, these include:
▪ A tourist spot for walks
▪ A place to get a hot drink
▪ A scenic land train to the end of the
spit
▪ On the head itself is a Royal
National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
lookout station
▪ A nature reserve
▪ On windy days the head is very
good for kite flying
Plan a field trip to Hengistbury Head.
Contact Hengistbury Head Outdoor
Education Centre 01202 425173
[email protected]
Q: What could happen to the
beach huts on Hengistbury
Head if the sea level rose?
A: The beach would get washed
away and the beach huts may
become unstable and washed
into the sea.
▪ Sandbanks is a small piece of land on the
edge of Dorset jutting out over the mouth of
Poole Harbour. It is one of the most highly
awarded and popular beaches in Europe
▪ Sandbanks, whose main road is known as
‘millionaires' row’, is only 1km², and has
the fourth highest land value, by area, in
the world
▪ People who own houses on sandbanks
include Harry Rednapp, (manager of
Portsmouth football team) and Jeff Boycott
(cricketer)
Q: What could be the impact
on people living on a
sandbank if sea level rises?
A: Homes could be flooded by
sea water and people would be
forced to leave their homes.
▪ Poole Harbour is one of the world's largest
natural harbours and it's sheltered waters
provide a magnificent haven for
recreational sailing and water sports
▪ Sharing the navigation channels with
yachtsmen are cross-Channel ferries and
cargo vessels proceeding to and from the
busy commercial Port
▪ The local fishing fleet also arrives and
departs at all hours
▪ The mudflats and salt marshes are of
internationally importance to birds.
Birdwatchers come to visit from all over the
world.
Q: How do you think the larger
boats are able to sail through
such shallow waters of the
harbour?
A: The Poole Harbour
Commissioners dredge out
channels in the harbour bed to
allow for the bottom (hull) of the
boat to cruise though. It’s not
easy though; the boats both
large and small have to
manoeuvre between the
navigation buoys in place.
2.
Sandbanks
Spit
3.
Poole Harbour
Large harbour
Q: How can beaches like
Hengistbury Head be
protected and should we
continue to protect?
A: Groynes, which catch the
sand in the water and build up
the beach. The beach acts as a
form of protection from the
pounding waves on the cliff
edge. Seas may become
rougher and storms more
frequent. Protecting the beach
may be too costly in the long run
for the council and landowners.
Q: Why do you think people
want to live on Sandbanks?
A: Outstanding views, boats/
yatch moorings, status and
weather.
Activity 6: Coastal Environments and Habitats along the Dorset Coast – Teacher’s Notes
Marine and Coastal Education Pack 2008
4.
Arne
Salt marsh
5.
Studland
Sand dunes
▪ A salt marsh is a coastal wetland that is
regularly flooded at high tide
▪ Coastal salt marshes help to preserve the
shoreline by soaking up storm tides
▪ At low tide the exposed mud is a rich
feeding ground for resident and migrant
bird
▪ The reserve at Arne is managed by the
RSPB
Q: What do you think birds at
Arne eat?
A: Worms and molluscs. Their
different beak shapes represent
the type of food they can eat.
Long beaks can delve deep into
the mud, while short strong
beaks can break into shells and
pick out the meat.
Plan a field trip to Arne, contact the RSPB
(Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)
Contact 01929 553360 www.rspb.org.uk
and search for the reserve site ‘Arne’ or
email [email protected]
RSPB teaching resources are
available at:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/t
eaching/resources/index.asp
▪ Studland Beach and Nature Reserve is
famous for its long sandy beaches and
sand dunes
▪ Sand dunes (sandhills) are formed by
windblown sand from exposed sandy
beaches
▪ The tiny pieces of sand collect within the
grasses and they accumulate to make huge
dunes. The long fine Marram grass roots
hold the dunes together.
Q: What could happen to the
sand dunes if people keep
walking through them?
Discuss
A: Sand dunes are very delicate
coastal features. If people walk
over them and make ruts, the
wind will blow through the
Marram grass roots and in turn
break up the dunes it is best to
stick to the board walks and
pathways already in place.
Other sand dunes along UK coasts can be
found at Dawlish.
http://www.devononline.com/towns/dawlish/dawlishwarren.html
Plan a field trip to Studland Beach Study
Centre
Contact 01929 450461
[email protected]
6.
Swanage:
Bay & headland
▪ A headland is a piece of land that juts into
the sea. Headlands are shaped by erosion
▪ They are formed when the sea attacks a
section of coast consisting of alternating
bands of hard and soft rock. The bands of
soft rock, such as sand and clay, erode
more quickly than those of more resistant
hard rock, such as limestone
▪ Bays are areas found between two
headlands where there are alternating hard
rock and soft rock. Waves erode the areas
of softer rock more rapidly than the hard
Q: Why are bays more popular
tourist attractions?
A: Beaches are usually found
there; often providing calm seas,
a sheltered area and place to
explore and take part in
activities.
Activity 6: Coastal Environments and Habitats along the Dorset Coast – Teacher’s Notes
Marine and Coastal Education Pack 2008
7.
Durlston
Sea Cliffs
▪ Durlston Country Park is a nature reserve
▪ Cliffs at Durlston are made of hard resistant
rock
▪ Provides good nesting site for sea birds
e.g. Guillemots and Puffins
▪ Quarrying has occurred in the past
Plan a field trip to Durlston Country Park
and Nature Reserve (Swanage). Contact :
01929 424443 http://www.durlston.co.uk
8.
Kimmeridge
Rockpool
9.
Lulworth Ranges
Durdle Door
Q: Why are there big holes in
the cliffs? Discuss
A: Quarrying the hard rock for
dry stone walls, building stone.
Q: Why are the cliffs good for
seabirds?
A: Ledges, protection and
access to food
▪ Rockpools are pools of seawater trapped
between the rocks as the tide goes out
▪ The water in a rockpool can get very warm,
and even dry up altogether, on a hot
summer's day
▪ When the tide comes back in, the water in
the rockpool is very quickly cooled down
again and becomes part of the sea
▪ Creatures found in rockpools cope with a
much wider variation in temperature than
creatures living in the open sea
Kimmeridge rockpools
▪ Kimmeridge to Portland has an unusual
'double low tide' which means the tide stays
out much longer here than in other places
and rockpools can heat up much more on a
hot day
▪ Kimmeridge is a popular spot for rockpooling and large numbers of people with
nets and buckets can potentially be a threat
to some of the creatures found in the
rockpools. Always follow the Seashore
Code!
Plan a field trip to Purbeck Wildlife
Reserve, Kimmeridge Bay for a spot of
rockpooling. Contact 01929 481044
http://www.coastlink.org/kimmeridge
Q: What might happen to the
seawater in a rockpool on a
very rainy day?
A: The seawater will become
less salty if large amounts of rain
(fresh) water are added (This
can be a big problem for sea
creatures).
▪ Durdle Door is a classic coastal arch.
An Arch forms when a headland is
subjected to erosion by the sea
▪ The waves find a weak point in the rock
and enlarge it to form a cave. Over time
the waves widen the cave and eventually
an arch is formed. Waves continue to
attack the arch, widening it and weakening
the top part
▪ Eventually the arch will collapse into the
Q: The Jurassic Coast is
composed of many different
types of rocks, including
limestone, clays, sandstones
and chalk. Which rock types
are more likely to suffer from
erosion?
A: Sandstones and clays are
very soft and are more
susceptible to erosion than
Q: Why do rockpool creatures
like dark, shady places to
hide?
A: Predators such as seabirds
might catch them and eat them if
they are out in the open.
Activity 6: Coastal Environments and Habitats along the Dorset Coast – Teacher’s Notes
Marine and Coastal Education Pack 2008
sea and a stack will be left behind. Finally,
the stack will also be eroded by the sea
leaving behind a stump
limestone and chalk, which are
harder.
Plan a field trip to Lulworth Cove and
Heritage Centre to view Lulworth Cove
and Durdle Door.
Contact 01929 400155
http://www.lulworth.com/education/educa
tion.htm
10.
Weymouth & Lyme
Regis
Sandy beach
11.
The Fleet
Tidal lagoon
▪ Sandy beaches are a deposited landforms
▪ They are popular tourist attractions
because they are usually gently sloping
and a great place to relax to take part in
activities
▪ Many activities take place at a sandy beach
For example:
Building sandcastles
Sailing
Bathing / paddling
Going to beach huts
Dog walking (not in the height of
summer)
Kite flying
Q: What types of jobs do you
think people do in the summer
when there are lots of
tourists?
A: Waiters/waitresses, ice
cream sellers, deckchair
attendants, boat operators and
Lifeguard.
▪ The Fleet derives its name from the Saxon
'fleot', meaning shallow water
▪ The Fleet Lagoon is a shallow area of
brackish ( salt and fresh water )water
between Chesil Beach and the mainland
▪ It is 13 km long and at its deepest is 4-5
metres deep. The upper Fleet is less
than 2 metres deep
▪ The Fleet connects to the sea via a narrow
channel at Ferrybridge into Portland
Harbour. Sea water can also enter the
Fleet by percolation through Chesil Beach
under some tidal conditions. Fresh water
can enter the Fleet from a number of small
streams and by run-off from the
surrounding fields
▪ Over 150 species of seaweed, 25 species
of fish and 60 species of mollusc have
been found in the Fleet. Up to 5000 Brent
geese over-winter on the
Fleet. The Fleet is also home to seahorses
who live in the eel grass
Q: How is the Fleet tidal
lagoon different from a fresh
water lake and lagoon?
A: There are different creatures
and plants and the amount of
salt in the water differs.
Q: Where does the sand come
from?
A: It is eroded from surrounding
rocks and cliffs and deposited
on the shore by the waves.
Some beaches require sand
added to them each year
because of erosion.
For more information visit
http://www.chesilbeach.org/Fleet/
Activity 6: Coastal Environments and Habitats along the Dorset Coast – Teacher’s Notes
Marine and Coastal Education Pack 2008
12.
Chesil Beach
Shingle beach
▪ Chesil Beach is 18 miles (28 kilometres)
long and rises to 14 metres in height
▪ It is a pebble and shingle beach connecting
Portland to Abbotsburry and then
continuing north-westwards to West Bay
near Bridport
▪ There are larger pebbles at the Portland
end and smaller pebbles as you head
towards West Bay
▪ Smugglers in the past could tell where they
were on the beach depending on the size
of the pebble
▪ Chesil Beach shelters Weymouth from the
prevailing ocean wind and waves and
prevents the area being eroded by wave
action
▪ It is illegal to remove any pebbles from
Chesil Beach
Q: Why are the pebbles so
round on Chesil beach
A: Wave action and the stones
banging together round off their
edges.
Plan a field trip to Chesil Beach Centre
for an informative vistit to the Chesil and
around the Fleet.
Contact 01305 760579
http://www.chesilbeach.org/CBFNR/
13.
Charmouth
Eroding cliffs
▪ The soft cliffs in this part of Dorset are full
of fossils that are washed out by the sea
onto the beach; If you look carefully
enough you may even find one
▪ The most famous fossil collector was a
young Victorian girl called Mary who found
the first ever Plesiosaur (Loch Ness
monster)
Q: How can you stay safe
when fossil collecting?
A: Wear the correct gear
(protective eyewear) , have the
right equipment (geological
hammer), check the tide and
don’t hammer into the cliffs
(Follow fossil code PDF in
section 3).
Plan a field trip to Charmouth Heritage
Centre for a 2 hour fossil dig.
Contact 01297 560772
http://www.charmouth.org
Activity 6: Coastal Environments and Habitats along the Dorset Coast – Teacher’s Notes
Marine and Coastal Education Pack 2008