Coastal Protection Work
Poole Bay Beach Replenishment 2005-2006
During the winter of 2005/2006 some 450,000 cubic metres of sand dredged from Poole Harbour channels and approaches were used to replenish the beaches between Shore Road and Branksome Dene Chine.
Work at Poole formed part of a wider project that replenished other beaches along Poole Bay's coastline. Work started on 22nd November 2005 at Swanage, moved to Poole on 15th December and continued at Bournemouth between 18th January - 18th March.
Two dredgers and the onshore team worked 24 hours a day 7 days a week, including Christmas and New Year.
A dedicated website 
provided regularly updated information including a daily diary and photographs, and remains online as a permanent record of the project.
A History of Coastal Protection at Sandbanks
Coastal protection work in recent years has focused on the beaches at Sandbanks:
Sandbanks Phase 1 (1996)
Due to the increase in the erosion rate and the perceived threat to properties, specialist consultant HR Wallingford was commissioned to produce a design for a coastal protection scheme to deal with the rapidly worsening situation.
The scheme chosen built on the partial success of the Midway Path groyne and consisted of four addition rock groynes, one to the west of Midway Path and three to the east. Midway Path itself was also extended.
The majority of rock used for the groynes was in the range of 3 - 6 tonne Portland Limestone which was delivered to site by road transport.
A major concern of the design was the risk of individuals using the groyne to walk on. We were advised that access to the groynes should be prohibited and that signage should be in place to advise of the dangers. It was recognised that people would continue to walk on the groynes regardless of the potential danger, and a flat concrete walkway was placed along the top of all surface piercing groynes to make them as safe as possible.
These walkways are in constant use by the public and are considered to add value to a visit to Sandbanks.
Historically, the majority of Sandbanks consisted of sand dunes but due to residential development and the recent beach erosion they had been depleted considerably. To regenerate 1200m2 of sand dune the planting of marram and sea lyme grass was undertaken. These are now well established and are inhabited by Sand Lizards.
The Phase 1 scheme worked well, attracting sand in very large quantities. The wider beach not only protects the sea walls, but also their life have been extend and public safety improved.
Sandbanks Phase 2 (2000)
Despite the overall improvement along the sea frontage, the beach further eastward continued to erode sufficiently to cause concern. With sea front properties at risk of damage in an area that covered about 700 metres, we included a contingency for future beach nourishment should it be necessary.
Experience gained from the building of Phase 1 led us to believe that the new groyne bays would fill naturally from onshore transport of sand from Hook Sand.
The works completed in Spring 2001 consisted of constructing for new rock groynes and making alternation to two existing ones. In order to achieve this a nursery areas to grow suitable planting material was created at the rear of Sandbanks Pavilion. Seeds were then taken from the grasses created in 1995/6 and germinated in a greenhouse. When ready, the small plants were planted in the nursery and later transferred to the designated areas.
As with Phase 1, Phase 2 has been very successful and attracted sand in large quantities. Only the eastern end of the works has continued to have erosion problems. It has always been our intention to carry out re-nourishment works if this should prove necessary in the future.
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