Geology of the Area

Having a geologist in the team is rather helpful at the moment.

So I decided to ask Mr Hobbs , known to many under between the ages of 12 to 18 as "Sir" to explain some whats been uncovered up at the north of the bay.


Geology of the Area
Following the recent storms, a lot of new rock exposures have been uncovered, so here is a rough guide to what Geology we have on the coast north of Swanage Bay.
Swanage Bay is a sandy bay facing east. In the southern part there are low cliffs and banks of Upper Purbeck limestone and shale, these are largely built over and so are not exposed.
To the north there are excellent cliff sections of Wealden strata.

These are the cliffs of soft yellowish and brownish sands and clay with a Coarse Quartz Grit. Lignite and plant debris is common (dark grey/black matter) and dinosaur remains are found occasionally in these Cretaceous fluvial (River) sediments.
Gault clay and Upper Greensand follow as you walk further to the North. Beyond this, where the Purbeck Hills reach the sea is the major Chalk exposure of Ballard Cliff, beneath Ballard Down.

Next to the ravine at Sheps Hollow is a nice exposure of Plenus Marl (Marl is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or mudstone which contains variable amounts of clays and silt. This particular Marl looks Blue due to a high percentage of the minerals Glauconite and Chlorite. They are part of the Chalk sequences that make up Ballard down and do contain Chalk / Flint nodules. This Marl would have been deposited in Lacustrine (Lake) conditions.

At the base of Ballard down, the chalk is very fossiliferous and contains various forms of Micraster (Sea Urchin Fossils)

As always, a note of caution, although the Geology is superb in this area, care must be taken.

Landslips are now a very common feature of this part of Swanage and you should also be aware of tide times so you do not get into difficulty.

Peveril Point

Today's scene at Peveril - there are some small slips.

Remember don't stand right on the edge of the cliffs as you might be standing on an over hang.

North Beach update

These photos have kindly been sent in tonight from a local resident.

These slips are very active and our advice is to keep your distance.

At certain tides there is a risk of being cut off, please don't attempt to walk over the slips.

More slips

From this afternoons patrol

Old Harry takes a battering

Poor Old Harry has taken a battering over the last week.

Well technically Old Harry was lost many years ago but the headland keeps the name.

Our rovering mobile mountain biker took this photo today.

We mentioned yesterday to be careful at the base of cliffs but this is just as important at the top.

Please keep away from the base of cliffs

All along the Dorset coast reports are being made of land slips.

A walk along to Ballard yesterday saw several slips with a lot of washed up debris.










Please keep clear of the base of cliffs.

Seafront remains closed

Shore Road remained closed today with visitors enjoying the wider space.

The road and drains will require cleaning before the road can be opened.





This weekend patrols have been checking key area and reported the cliffs in several areas as hazardous.

Following a large cliff fall near West Bay we ask people keep clear keep of the cliffs

Today's patrol also located a sick cow which was reported to the farmer.

Clear up starts

Purbeck Police posted this picture of Middle Beach yesterday showing the storm damage.





At Swanage the sea wall has been damaged.





With the sun out this morning, we ask people to take care and observe safety signs and closure signs. The signs are there for a reason - during Friday we saw several people ignore closures putting themselves and the emergency services at risk.

999 Callout

The team were again called out this morning to Anvil Point.

Portland Coastguard received a silent 999 call from the emergency phone at the lighthouse and tasked the team to investigate.

Although the sun was out the wind was still blowing a force 10.

On arrival the team searched the area and found the cable had come down causing a fault on the line.




Sea conditions at Anvil Point this morning.

The 999 phone at Anvil Point is currently broken and has been reported to BT.

Flooding Callout

A major incident was called by partner agencies last night in Dorset.

Rain, strong winds and high seas were forecast putting property and life at risk in places.

The local District Council requested assistance in the Lower High Street to put sandbags out to stop the sea which breached the stone quay flooding properties.

Assisted by the Town Council a small sandbagged wall was made which deflected any small waves away from properties.

We also apologise to motorist who were caught up in a traffic jam. The signage to close the road was meant to be brought by a County Council team but due to pressures elsewhere and trees down at Harmans Cross they were delayed in arriving.

The team also had to give strong advice to members of the public especially some younger ones who were putting themselves at huge risk on the sea front as the waves smashed over the sea wall.

Conditions along Shore Road were yet again very unusual with waves coming over the wall and flooding the road. Police requested the barriers closed to prevent vehicles driving on stones.

The sea wall has been broken in several places.

This morning an assessment will be made before the roads and pavements opened.