Tuesday 25th March 2025 - Cliff Slump, Promenade Update and Spring Progresses

The following is taken from an article published on North Norfolk News’ website, in relation to the current problems we are experiencing here in Overstrand; those I’ve covered in earlier blogs:

‘New access steps have been installed making it possible to pass in front of the sea wall at low tide while bypassing the closed path.

Experts believe the slide happened because the cliff surface is made up of clay, silt, gravel, chalk and sand which are naturally unstable and prone to slumping when wet.

But investigations have now revealed that urgent work is needed to refurbish parts of the sea wall and NNDC is looking to put together a budget.

The materials of the cliff surface make it prone to slumping when wet.

Due to beach levels dropping, the council claims the sea wall has become “significantly undermined in several places” and the sea has penetrated through the corroded sheets.

The recommended works propose replacing the corroded sheet piling and reinforcing the structure with concrete at the sections which are most vulnerable.

As well as funding for the refurbishment of the sea wall, the council wants to create a budget to deal with cliff slips along the coast.

Cllr Harry Blathwayt, portfolio for coast, said: “Maintaining coastal defences in areas such as this is very challenging and expensive, but it is important to ensure that coastal towns and villages remain sustainable, vibrant places to live and visit. North Norfolk is in many ways at the forefront of the impacts of coastal change, exacerbated by the changing climate, and it is timely now both to take the short-term actions to slow those impacts where we can, but also to develop transition plans for the future.”

The council’s cabinet will discuss the plans later this month and recommend the funding options.’

As with so many things, it’s a case of wait and see but let’s hope it’s not too long a wait.  With regard to the steps, these are well constructed and solid, see photo below.  Unfortunately, they’re not suitable for dogs, as there is a risk they could fall down between the individual steps and drop down onto the beach below.  However, come 1st May dogs will be banned from the beach area below the promenade.

As spring progresses, we start to see more flowers when we are out for our walks.  Flowering on the cliff, as you come up from the east end of the promenade, are colt’s foot.  Colt’s foot is one of the many edible plants with medicinal properties, which can be found growing wild.  Another edible, currently flowering, is the three-cornered leek.  This is invasive and because of this, it is an offence, to plant or otherwise cause to grow this species in the wild. I can certainly vouch for them being invasive – every spring I lift several plants out of the soil in our garden.  Then there are the delicate purple violets, see photo below, which we have seen flowering along the edge of a footpath and on grass verges too.  The flowers are edible but the roots are toxic.  I can remember having violet sweets as a child and hating their flavour – I’ll stick to enjoying seeing the flowers!  A thank you here, to Danni in the Wild for her latest foraging video.  This provided me with more information than the links, I have put in this blog, about colt’s foot and the status of three-cornered leeks. Finally, never eat anything growing wild, unless you are 100% you have identified it correctly.