UK Physcial Landscapes - Case Studies

Where is medmerry when did this happen and what is it?

Medmerry is located in West Sussex, on the south coast of England

2011-2014

It is Europe’s largest costal realignment scheme

What did they do at Medmerry

Breaching 7km of existing sea walls and allowing the sea to flood 300 hectares of farmland, creating new salt marshes. This new habitat acts as a natural barrier to absorb wave energy and protect the surrounding area from flooding. The project cost £28 million

Why did medmerry happen

Before the scheme, the area had major flooding in 2008 which cost around £5 million in damages. Climate change and rising sea levels made hard engineering strategies like sea walls increasing expensive and un sustainable. Medmerry aimed to provide long term protection for communities, farmland and infrastructure.

Pros of medmerry

Created 183 hectares of intertidal habitat which benefited wildlife and increased tourism

Reduced flood risk for 350 properties, a main road and farmland

Cons of medmerry

Loss of 300 hectares of farmland impacted local farmers

£28 million cost was high, and there were concerns that managed retreat may bot be suitable for all costal locations

Where is the Jubilee flood relief channel when did this happen and what is it?

Runs though Berkshire and Buckinghamshire on the river Thames

2001

A flood relief channel

What did they do for the jubilee flood relief Channel

11.7km of artificial waterway built on the river Thames to divert excess water and reduce flood risk in Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton. It has a capacity of 215 cubic metre per second and a cost of £110 million

Why did they need the jubilee flood relief channel

Scheme was designed to protect over 3000 properties from flooding, partially after severe flooding in the 1990s. It also ensure that key economic areas like Windsor remain protected from furniture extreme weather events

Pros of jubilee flood relief channel

Successfully protected over 3000 properties.

Provided recreational opportunities such as walking and cycling routed along the bank

What are the cons of the jubilee flood relief channel

The project was over budget costing £110 million instead if the planned £84 million

Some areas such as Wraysbury experienced increased flooding as the extra water diverted by the channel reached them faster

Disrupted habitats during construction