... to a web-site dedicated to aiding and furthering the understanding of barrier beaches.

Barrier beaches around the UK are important, not only in terms of defences against flooding but also in their own right as important coastal geomorphological features. It is an unfortunate truth that the present understanding of the behaviour of barrier beaches is below par. This lack of understanding, together with other constraints, makes the successful and cost-efficient management of barrier beaches one of the most challenging tasks that the coastal manager can face.

A team consisting of HR Wallingford, the University of Southampton, and the Channel Coastal Observatory, with the support of funding from Defra (project FD 1924) will map, classify and review the present understanding of barrier beaches. Importantly, the year-long Understanding Barrier Beaches Scoping Study will also glean and collate presently employed management techniques.

This web-site has been established as a means for imparting information easily to the FD 1924 Project Steering Group and others with an interest in barrier beaches. It also provides an opportunity for individuals with barrier beach management responsibility around the UK to contribute their experience.

For further information about this project, please e-mail s.stripling@hrwallingford.co.uk