Swimmers, surfers and fossil fans on the Isle of Wight will likely be familiar with Yaverland Beach, a gorgeous stretch of sand on the southeast of the island.
For those less acquainted with the southerly isle, Yaverland is located just north of popular tourist spot Sandown and is home to the Wildheart animal sanctuary and Dinosaur Isle, a museum that is, unsurprisingly, dedicated to dinos. Alongside those animals (both alive and long-dead), Yaverland’s main draw is its mile-long beach with waters perfect for swimming and surfing.
However, the Environmental Agency and the Isle of Wight Council are concerned that the beach might not look the same for long. Rising sea levels and aging coastal defences mean Yaverland’s town and beach are at risk of flooding and erosion. So the council and Environmental Agency have come up with a plan to save them.
The plan will involve strengthening and refurbishing the existing sea wall that runs along Yaverland’s coastline. The council will also replace and refresh the groynes (those big wooden barriers on beaches that stick into the sea) which are spread across the beach. Reinforcing the wall will protect the areas behind from flooding, especially during stormy English winters, and replacing the groynes will help trap sand, stopping it washing down the coastline and keeping the beach intact for years to come.
It’s projected that the scheme will cost around £22 million and won’t be fully complete until 2030. However, according to the Yaverland coastal defence team, the project will provide over £160 million worth of benefits to the town and the environment.
Yaverland locals and business owners have also been involved in the process of deciding on the best way to improve the coastline, with public exhibitions of different options for the future of the coastal defences being held since 2023. There have also been extensive environmental surveys of the beach where the Environmental Agency has been monitoring groundwater levels.
If you’d like to read more information on Yaverland’s coastal defences, that can be found on the Environmental Agency website here.
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