BLAST BEACH SEAHAM
N 54° 49.255 W 001° 19.420
30U E 607704 N 6076151
An interesting walking area near Seaham Co Durham
Waymark Code: WMKMQ4
Location: United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/03/2014
Views: 6
The Durham coastline has been disturbed and polluted by a century of waste tipping from the five Collieries dotted along its length (Vane Tempest, Seaham, Easington, Horden and Blackhall). None of the Collieries are still active, but their influence on the coastline is still visible.
The waste that was dumped onto the beaches was first pushed out to sea, then with the action of the tide it was washed back onto the beaches and down the coast. This caused huge piles of black and grey spoil heaps to develop.
Although this is not ideal, the shelf of waste prevented the sea from eroding the cliffs (the cliffs being made up of limestone and soft clay soils above, which erode quite quickly).
However, at some points the tide has now cleared the beaches of waste and erosion is taking place threatening the headlands and grasslands above.
These unique grasslands and headlands occur on the outcrops of Magnesian Limestone laid down between 250 and 295 million years ago in the Permian period.
It is a species rich habitat and important biologically for its plants and invertebrates. Many of the species found here are on or near their range limit in Britain and many are scarce or uncommon.
The National Trust aim to protect such landscapes – our management of this stretch of coast is about maximising the amount of grassland as sections are lost and helping to increase their area elsewhere.
The address of property, including Postcode.:
Seaham, County Durham, SR7 7PS
The charges to visitors and opening hours.:
Open paths
National Trust member: no
Web page: Not listed
Parking place (optional): Not Listed
References: Not listed
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