6th December: Storm surge aftermath

Today, the Reserve team headed out to assess the damage from the exceptionally high tides caused by the storms that hit the North East on the 5th December. These tides are reported to be the highest seen here for at least 60 years.

Around 3 metres of dunes have been lost from this section - you can see where they used to exist where the marram remnants are on the beach.

Collapsed foredunes near the Beacons at Ross

Between 3 and 5 metres of foredunes from the North shore of Holy Island and from Ross were lost. The huge waves removed the marram grass from the dunes, exposing the sand underneath which was undercut by the waves.

Thankfully, the very important little tern breeding areas are still intact. The storm may even have created new habitat for little terns which they could use next year.

Our flooded hide!

The high tide breached the bank and flooded the hide at Fenham-Le-Moor, you can see how far the water came up the wall on the above picture. The water was swept out and the doors have been left open, so hopefully it won't be long until it is dry again.

Thankfully, there have been no casualties that we are aware of and no really dangerous damage to parts of the Reserve.