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Nature Reclaims Spurn Spit After Devastating Surge
7 Feb
Summary
- Nature is actively rebuilding the Spurn spit, which was split by a 2013 tidal surge.
- Longshore drift naturally deposits eroded material, aiding the spit's regeneration.
- Grazing animals help control invasive buckthorn, benefiting native flora and fauna.
A significant natural regeneration is underway on the Spurn spit in East Yorkshire, a crucial coastal feature damaged over a decade ago. The massive tidal surge of 2013, one of the most severe since 1953, washed away the only access road and devastated sand dunes and wildlife habitats.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, managing the site, has observed nature actively rebuilding the spit. The primary driver of this recovery is longshore drift, a natural coastal process where the sea redeposits eroded materials from the north, gradually reconstructing the spit.
Beyond natural landform repair, wildlife management strategies are also in place. Grazing animals are introduced during autumn and winter to consume invasive buckthorn. This control measure prevents the buckthorn from supporting the brown-tail moth, which can cause skin irritation, while also clearing space for native grassland species and orchids to thrive.
