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In this topic we explore the dynamic Sidmouth coastline in Devon, UK, focusing on its geological composition and ongoing environmental changes. We detail the various rock layers, from ancient Triassic sandstones and mudstones to younger Upper Greensand and Clay-with-Flints, explaining how these contribute to the distinctive shingle beach. The topic focuses on the historical forces that shaped the beach, including Ice Age sea-level rises and long shore drift, and highlights the significant impact of human intervention through coastal defences. It also explores the beach in its role as a habitat for wildlife and the plants and animals especially adapted to survive in this harsh environment.
The articles in this thread address the following questions:
What are the two main Triassic red bed geological formations found at the western end of the Sidmouth coastline?
How did the shingle that forms the Sidmouth beach primarily arrive at its current location?
What was the "Great Beach," and why is it significant to the formation of modern beaches like Sidmouth's?
Besides natural erosion, what significant human-related factor has contributed to the shrinking of the Main Beach in Sidmouth
What is "overtopping," and which area of Sidmouth is particularly vulnerable to it during storms?
What are the key challenges that make the shingle beach a difficult environment for plants to survive
What is the primary purpose of the "beach garden" in front of the Belmont Hotel?
What specific adaptations do halophyte plants have to enable them survive in salty coastal conditions?
What plant species can be found in the "beach garden" and elsewhere along the Sidmouth coastline?
What bird species live on the Sidmouth beach area during the winter?
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Explore the geology and history of Sidmouth's coastline. Learn about the Otter Sandstone, the 1824 storm, and the changing mouth of the River Sid.
Discover how the "Great Beach" of Sidmouth was formed. Learn about the Ice Age origins, the impact of longshore drift, and how human activity has shaped this 6,000-year-old shoreline.
Explore the future of Sidmouth’s cliffs and beaches. Learn about the 2m/year erosion rate , the risks of "coastal squeeze" , and how the Beach Management Plan aims to protect the town.
Why is it so hard for plants to grow on Sidmouth's beach? Explore the challenges of "Life on the Edge," from toxic salt levels and shifting ground to the lack of fresh water.
Discover the Sidmouth Beach Garden. Learn about the rare "halophyte" plants surviving on the shingle and the community effort to protect this fragile habitat.
Meet the survival specialists of Sidmouth! This field guide covers the resilient plants of the Beach Garden, from the deep-rooted Sea Kale to the vibrant Viper's Bugloss.
Explore how plants survive on Sidmouth's red sandstone cliffs and sea defenses. Discover the specialists like Rock Samphire and the "clifftop castaways" of the Jurassic Coast.
Discover the specialist flora of Sidmouth. From the vitamin-rich Danish Scurvygrass to the "antlered" Buckshorn Plantain, learn how these plants master the coastal fringe.
Meet the birds of Sidmouth’s shoreline. From Arctic Turnstones to clever Herring Gulls, learn how these species survive on the shingle and sea defences.
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