4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313134383932 English Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en 2026-03-03T13:06:39.963Z NRW 1.0 wel British National Grid (EPSG::27700) Ecological Effects of Re-Building Beaches in Wales Ecological Effects of Re-Building Beaches in Wales Effeithiau ecolegol ailadeiladu traethau yng Nghymru 2012-03-31 NRW_DS114892 Beach re-building - also known as beach nourishment, is the process of adding sediment to a beach to make it higher and wider. In an era of sea level rise, beaches are under serious threat - many are already adversely affected by manmade defences that have reduced the natural sediment supply. Beaches are a key natural, social and economic resource for Wales - they play a vital role in sustaining coastal tourism and underpin important nature conservation and landscape sites and acts as 'natural' coastal defences, dissipating wave energy, helping to protect both natural and manmade structures. During 2009/2010 a Steering Group comprising The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), The Crown Estate, British Marine Aggregates Producers Association (BMAPA), Welsh Government, and the Environment Agency Wales (EAW) commissioned a Pilot Study to begin investigating the issues relating to the use of aggregates (sand, shingle, gravel, etc.) for beach nourishment in Wales, specifically in relation to the potential requirements for the quantity of material that may be needed to maintain Welsh beaches at current and future risk. The study is, in essence, a short data and literature review to establish the current level of knowledge regarding the ecological impacts (both positive and negative) of beach nourishment on the intertidal ecology of Welsh beaches. The potential impacts of more 'traditional' hard engineering and the use beach control structures are relatively well understood by coastal engineers, while the potential impacts of beach nourishment are less well known by those responsible for all aspects of beach management. The aim of the study is to look at the ecological effects (including potential benefits or adverse effects) of re-building beaches. This considers the most appropriate places for beach re-building, the methods used (including timing of works) and the suitability of different types of material. Beach re-building - also known as beach nourishment, is the process of adding sediment to a beach to make it higher and wider. In an era of sea level rise, beaches are under serious threat - many are already adversely affected by manmade defences that have reduced the natural sediment supply. Beaches are a key natural, social and economic resource for Wales - they play a vital role in sustaining coastal tourism and underpin important nature conservation and landscape sites and acts as 'natural' coastal defences, dissipating wave energy, helping to protect both natural and manmade structures. During 2009/2010 a Steering Group comprising The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), The Crown Estate, British Marine Aggregates Producers Association (BMAPA), Welsh Government, and the Environment Agency Wales (EAW) commissioned a Pilot Study to begin investigating the issues relating to the use of aggregates (sand, shingle, gravel, etc.) for beach nourishment in Wales, specifically in relation to the potential requirements for the quantity of material that may be needed to maintain Welsh beaches at current and future risk. The study is, in essence, a short data and literature review to establish the current level of knowledge regarding the ecological impacts (both positive and negative) of beach nourishment on the intertidal ecology of Welsh beaches. The potential impacts of more 'traditional' hard engineering and the use beach control structures are relatively well understood by coastal engineers, while the potential impacts of beach nourishment are less well known by those responsible for all aspects of beach management. The aim of the study is to look at the ecological effects (including potential benefits or adverse effects) of re-building beaches. This considers the most appropriate places for beach re-building, the methods used (including timing of works) and the suitability of different types of material. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Atkins Ltd Atkins Ltd, Longcross Court, 47 Newport Road, CARDIFF, CF24 0AD info@atkinsglobal.com http://www.atkinsglobal.com/locations/europe/uk/wales Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Environmental monitoring facilities GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme Aberavon Tenby Beach Broadwater Porthcawl Talacre Morfa Dyffryn Swansea Bay beach nourishment Abergele Traeth Crugan Port Eynon beach management NRW Thesaurus 2025-01-08 geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords Coastal geomorphology SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2024-06-19 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml The following data is considered OS derived data and is therefore jointly owned by NRW and the Ordnance Survey. NRW may release, publish or disseminate this data freely; providing recipients are made aware of use restrictions (See general use restrictions). no limitations ©CNC/NRW and © Crown copyright (2012). All rights reserved. Natural Resources Wales, AC0000849444. Third parties seeking to re-use this data require a Licence issued by NRW. It allows re-use, reproduction and dissemination in any format or medium but only for non-commercial purposes, according to the terms and conditions of the Licence. Those seeking commercial re-use require a commercial licence available from the OS. English geoscientificInformation SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 benthic boundary layer Wales (WLS) -5.06641934 -3.17409904 51.29006186 53.40892791 2009-01-01 2012-03-31 Ecological effects of re-building beaches on intertidal habitats in Wales Geographic Information System [A] Study area boundaries are held as MapInfo tab file. [B] Literature Review and report held as word doc and pdf. Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation. false Ten case study beaches were chosen to represent a range of issues around the coast of Wales and to include sandy beaches, sand and shingle beaches, high and low tourist areas and different flood and erosion risks. Using Phase 1 Intertidal maps provided by former Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) an area on each of the 10 study beaches was identified where beach nourishement might take place. The areas were reviewed by CCW experts and amendements made. Additional species and habitats that were considered important were also included in the data study. A literature study was carried out on beach nourishment projects as well as post nourishement studies to look at the sensitivity of the study areas to beach nourishment. The search was focused using the habitats as identified in each of the study beaches and the potential impact on these. This is a follow up to the 2009/10 beach nourishement pilot study and the Phase 2 project report that looked at the practicalities of rebuilding beaches. Ten case study beaches were chosen to represent a range of issues around the coast of Wales and to include sandy beaches, sand and shingle beaches, high and low tourist areas and different flood and erosion risks. Using Phase 1 Intertidal maps provided by former Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) an area on each of the 10 study beaches was identified where beach nourishement might take place. The areas were reviewed by CCW experts and amendements made. Additional species and habitats that were considered important were also included in the data study. A literature study was carried out on beach nourishment projects as well as post nourishement studies to look at the sensitivity of the study areas to beach nourishment. The search was focused using the habitats as identified in each of the study beaches and the potential impact on these. This is a follow up to the 2009/10 beach nourishement pilot study and the Phase 2 project report that looked at the practicalities of rebuilding beaches.