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| Porlock – rising sea levels in Somerset - Full Story |
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Porlock – rising sea levels in Somerset
One Somerset community on the frontline against rising sea levels.
High tides, ferocious storms and occasional flooding are part of life for many coastal communities.... |
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But in Porlock, the now regular flooding of the local marshes at high tide is a constant reminder of the threat posed by climate change.
Since 1850, a three mile long shingle ridge had held back the sea, protecting 100 hectares of grazing land. It was breached perhaps four times in the last century but was always rebuilt. Until that is, October 1996 when the tail end of Hurricane Lilli saw storms caused a major inundation, drowning dozens of sheep.
The cost of rebuilding the ridge had become too expensive and because there are no properties immediately threatened, the ridge has been left to its own devices.
Since then flooding of Porlock marshes has happened at most high tides. "The dynamics of the area have changed," says Denise Sage, manager of the Porlock Visitor centre. "It used to be a place where people went to picnic, now it’s a marsh."
At the moment there is no immediate danger to property, though Porlock Weir is likely to be on the frontline when sea levels rise and the weather becomes more prone to severe storms. The changes witnessed by the local community have focused man minds on the implications of tides that creep ever higher.
"What we have seen happen with the marshes has made people think about climate change and rising sea levels" says Denise. "We have seen first hand how quickly the sea can claim a large area of land and it brings home how climate change could impact on us."
"Rising sea levels and greater storminess could be serious for a place like Porlock. This is not something happening else where, it is something that will affect us all." |
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