Sussex Coast: West Wittering

• fundamental coastal processes


  Chichester Harbour formed by sea level rise. Now no rivers flowing into the harbour (so no input of sediment) just some chalk streams. Deposiional environment, low energy. Sediment moved along the spit from south to north by longshire drift. Sediment moves between The Winner and East Head in a 4-7 year cycle
• Coastal landscape


  Sand and shingle beach that gently slopes into the sea.

  Recurved spit called the East Head which is home to many sand dunes. The Hinge is the neck of the spit where it attaches to the beach. Behind the spit is a salt marsh - Snowhill Creek. The Winner is a sand bank exposed at low tide in front of the spit.
• Stakeholders


  Local residents

  visitors

  groups involved in the management of the East Head Spit as part of the East Head Coastal Issues Advisory Group (EHCIAG)
• East Head Coastal Issues Advisory Group (EHCIAG) members include


  Natural England

  The Environmental Agency

  Chichester district council

  The National Trust

  West Wittering Parish Council
• Prevoius management


  severe erosion to sea facing side of the spit in 1980-90s

  In 2005 a rock berm was put on the inside of the narrow hinge area to try ans secure the spit to the mainland and to prevent a channel forming if the sea should break through again.

  October 2004: the narrowest section linking the spit to the mainland was completely eroded away by the sea. During 2005 and 2009 a huge quantity of sand was transported fro the northern tip and a huge bank built over the rock berm planted with Marram Grass
• Current management


  Adaptive Management under the North Solent Shoreline Management Plan - a from of managed realignment but is reviwed frequently and action taken in order to protect the Hinge. Plan will monitor the spit but not try and lock it into its current size, shape or orientation.

  Wooden Groynes are used along West Wittering beach but East Head spit is protected by soft engineering

  existing timber breastworks had reached the end of their lives but will not be replaced as the objective of the adaptive management policy is to work with nature to create a more natural sloping beach which better absorbs the wave energy before it hits land whilst also retaining access to East Head