Taking pebbles home from UK beaches in England. Executive Digest tells you about this (strange?) ban. It goes like this: Cumberland Council, located in the north of England, recently announced a measure that has created controversy: anyone who removes pebbles and stones from local beaches will be fined a thousand pounds (about 1200 euros).
Although this decision disappointed many observers, protecting coastal ecosystems and preventing erosion are important reasons for this regulation, as indicated by several studies.
Going to the beach is an activity that brings back happy memories for many people from childhood. However, it is important to remember that sand and pebbles on beaches are not just decorative elements, but are home to various species and provide a natural barrier against the force of ocean waves, protecting homes and infrastructure.
Many people usually take a pebble or two as a souvenir or fill bags to decorate their gardens. There are also enthusiasts who are mesmerized by the variety of pebbles in terms of colors, shapes and fossils, the result of ancient glaciers or the erosion of nearby rocks.
However, it’s less well-known that under the Coast Guard Act 1949 it’s illegal to take things off beaches in England, notes The Conversation. The act was enacted to prevent the historic loss of large amounts of sediment dredged from beaches for use as construction materials.
Some pebble beaches in the UK are legally protected because of their ecological qualities. Nature England identifies these areas with the habitats they make up and the species that depend on them. For those living near these beaches, the main benefit of pebbles is their ability to reduce coastal erosion and flooding.
Nature conservation
The amount of sediment on the beach is essential to its effectiveness in reducing these risks. The more pebbles and silt a beach has, the better it absorbs wave energy. Excessive removal of pebbles, sand or other sediments reduces the beach’s ability to act as a natural barrier against flooding and erosion.
This amount of sediment naturally changes throughout the year as the beach adapts to tidal variations in different seasons. Waves carry pebbles in and out of the beach, arranging them into different areas. During winter storms, strong waves can move large amounts of sediment up the coast, creating steep ridges of pebbles known as ‘perms’.
A berm at the top of a beach is often a natural first line against storms, absorbing and dissipating wave energy. This reduces the risk of waves overtaking the beach or eroding protective walls and reefs.
While one person removing a few pebbles may not seem like a big problem, the cumulative effect of many people doing it can be significant. Pebble removal disrupts the natural processes of the beach and disrupts its dynamic balance.
Response to waves
Given the importance of beach sedimentation to protect against flooding and erosion, research is ongoing to better understand how pebble beaches respond to waves and storms.
This research is essential to assess the effectiveness of artificial shingle beaches in reducing the risks of coastal erosion and flooding.
Monitoring sediment transport is critical to advancing this research, with emerging and citizen science techniques being used to monitor sediment eroded from beaches.
In the context of climate change, where flooding and erosion risks are increasingly intense and frequent, it is important to maintain sediments on beaches and provide their natural role in coastal protection and habitat.
Asking people not to pick up pebbles from beaches may seem like a small step, but helping to preserve beaches’ effectiveness in protecting our beaches is vital.
With Executive Digest
