Breeding grey seals on the beach at Horsey in Norfolk.
Seal pup on the dunes
December 2011
Picture: James Bass
Visitors ‘not threat’ to SSSI’s seal colony
By BEN WOODS, Reporter
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
9:37 AM
Experts have moved to quash concerns that hundreds of visitors to a Norfolk seal colony are damaging a protected stretch of coastline.
Breeding grey seals on the beach at Horsey in Norfolk.
December 2011
Picture: James BassIt comes after villagers were alarmed by the vast number of people trampling on Horsey dunes to catch a glimpse of the basking seals and their young.
They fear it may lead to long-term erosion of the area, which forms part of the Winterton to Horsey Dunes- a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
But a reserve manager for Natural England claims the dunes are actually growing in places, and is confident the trampled areas will regenerate over time.
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency guaranteed Horsey’s concrete sea defences were in good condition and in no threat of deteriorating.
Breeding grey seals on the beach at Horsey in Norfolk.
People watching the seals from the top of the dunes
December 2011
Picture: James BassThe beach at Horsey is currently under a two-month voluntary closure to help protect the seals. It means people are allowed on the beach, but it is preferred they watch the animals from a distance by standing behind a roped fence on top of the dunes.
Rick Southwood, Natural England senior reserve manager for the Broads, said: “There is nobody more concerned about the dunes than Natural England and the Environment Agency. “We will keep an eye on things and if it becomes eroded or damaged we will put the necessary resources in place to address the problem.
“We don’t encourage people to trample on the dunes but we feel it is not having a major impact because there is a concrete defence underneath.
“By the summer the grass will have grown back in areas where it has been trampled. In places we have also seen sand building up.
“It is a balancing act. We have to look after the interests of the seals, the people and the coastline.”
The Horsey seal population has escalated from a mere 10 in 2003 to more than a 1,000 this year.
Currently, more than 80 volunteers are on hand at the beach to give advice to people when visiting the seals. Jack Payne, a parish councillor for Horsey, said some residents are concerned about people wearing away the sand dunes.
He said: “We see 5,000 people every week going down to see the seals.
“They have put a voluntary closure of the beach in place, but they cannot close it because it is a right of way.
“Now they have opened up the dunes for people to walk on - we feel thousands of people are risking the lives of the whole community by walking on there and wearing it away.”
Sophie Fallon, the Environment Agency’s operations delivery team leader for North Norfolk, advised people to stay on the side of the fence and not to disturb the seals.
In 2007, the Environment Agency installed two viewing platforms and wooden steps up the dunes to accommodate visitors to the site.
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6 comments
Copsy,I will not use the 4 letter word again but you are right as far as the track is at Horsey Gap.We tried it in October and gave up.But it does not seem to deter the 4x4s.For a couple of quid you can park at Horsey Mill and use the footpath across the fields,if the bull is not on the prowl.I noticed at Winterton,rather than pay a pound parking fee people would rather park on double yellow lines.
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john kendall
Friday, December 23, 2011
John, you are priceless. You seem to move from one story to the next having a pop at the RSPB wherever you can shoe-horn one of your moans in. For your information, the RSPB doesn't broadcast rare bird information. This is done by a couple of commercial set-ups who charge bird watchers a subscription to receive the information. Anyway, I thought the best deterrent at Horsey Gap was the shocking state of the access track. I once lost my car in the bottom of one of the potholes.
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xxxx
Thursday, December 22, 2011
We used to keep our caravan at Waxham Sands and there are restrictions in force right up to Whitsun whether it be for seals,adders or nesting birds.Anyone who exercises their dogs in the dunes are asking for trouble with snake bites.Adders used to crawl right across the site to the drinking water taps and I have even seen them basking in the sun outside the Nelson.The more publicity these organizations publish in the papers the greater the number of people who will visit the site.All they have to do is put "Road Closed"signs up at Horsey Gap etc.I have noticed in the past where the RSPB broadcast the fact that a rare bird has been spotted and that results in hundreds of twitchers visiting the site.In the next breath they are telling sightseers to keep away.Why publish these things in the first place?
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john kendall
Thursday, December 22, 2011
All that beach and the seals have to go there! Oops,I think there is something wrong with that statement.......Jeez,leave the seals alone and go somewhere else folks.
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wes1975
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Daisy, I think by suggesting that the conservation bodies have been creating this 'problem' by actively seeking to publicise the seal colony, you are being unfair on them. The colony is already common knowledge, and far from encouraging people the efforts and resources of the conservation bodies have been directed squarely at ensuring people can still enjoy what is a spectacular event but in a way that doesnt threaten any wider flood management or wildlife concerns. The colony has had all the publicity it needs through the media, and by word of mouth between the public without any great encouragement from the conservation bodies themselves. The cat's out of the bag and people will come now whether there are car parks or not. I can remember seal pups being harrassed by dogs before the wardeneing scheme was in place and the beach was managed, and it wasn't a good situation. Viewing platforms and wardening are merely an attempt to channel the increased numbers of people and manage the situation rather than have it get out of control. Surely better to manage it rather than it manage us in a much more damaging way, with all the risks that creates. It is a delicate and difficult balance to maintain, and I think Natural England and the National Trust deserve some credit and support for that.
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beeston bump
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
I can't see how they can justify this statement. When I first knew the area anyone wanting to visit the beach had to walk a good way to get there which deterred the casual visitor and kept the place quiet There are plenty of places for dog walkers either side of Horsey beach But since the beach car park has been opened up to all the place is flocked with people-not just those who go on tiptoe and leave only footprints but the lets go down to the beach with the pack of dogs off leads after sunday lunch brigade who dont give a monkeys about what is there. Viewing platforms are inappropriate as is publicising the site. I have a nasty feeling this has all happened because of promotion of the area, intended to be career boosting, by members of the conservation bodies mentioned. It might be a pedestrian right of way but if they had just sat on their hands, left the car park shut, removed opportunities to park on the side of the road or the track and the roadway rough everyone wanting to access the beach would have had to walk down a muddy lane or from Winterton or Horsey car park or Waxham which might have ensured a bit of peace for the seals. Some things are worth leaving alone, plenty of other places up and down the coast.
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Daisy Roots
Wednesday, December 21, 2011