Sea defence works pulling in the crowds

WORK to strip away sea defences at a Dorset beach has become an unlikely visitor attraction.

- TREVOR BEVINS

Huge machines have been tearing down old, failing, sea defences at Middle Beach, Studland since the first week in September.

The idea is to allow the beach to return to nature, providing a better environment for rare reptiles which have been moved to new, temporary, homes to allow the work to get underway.

The work has attracted streams of out-of-season visitors.

“At times we have had lines of people behind the cordoned off area watching the work and taking photos,’ said National Trust project officer, Kelly Marshall.

Although the work is likely to finish by mid-October it could be a year before the National Trust decides the beach is safe enough for visitors to return.

Throughout the project the Middle Beach car park will remain open along with a number of small business which rely on it, including a cafe, seaweed bathing and canoe hire.