Starter-The Coast & Music-Benjamin BrittenStarter-The Coast & Music-Benjamin Britten Benjamin Britten was one of the most famous English Benjamin Britten was one of the most famous English

2020thth century composers. He lived in Suffolk and he was century composers. He lived in Suffolk and he was inspired by the landscape that he lived in. His opera, inspired by the landscape that he lived in. His opera, ‘‘Peter Grimes’Peter Grimes’, is all about a young fisherman who was , is all about a young fisherman who was accused (wrongly) of murder and he eventually accused (wrongly) of murder and he eventually decided to commit suicide by drowning at sea. Rather a decided to commit suicide by drowning at sea. Rather a sad story, but some of the music is very good! You are sad story, but some of the music is very good! You are going to hear two pieces from his going to hear two pieces from his ‘4 Sea Interludes’‘4 Sea Interludes’..

As you listen to each of the pieces, write down some of As you listen to each of the pieces, write down some of your thoughts. What images do you get in your head- your thoughts. What images do you get in your head- think about the following: -think about the following: -

What time of day could it be?What time of day could it be? What is the weather like?What is the weather like? What do you think the sea is like?What do you think the sea is like? What sort of a seascape do you think of?What sort of a seascape do you think of?

Make sure you explain your ideas. How do Make sure you explain your ideas. How do the two pieces of music differ?the two pieces of music differ?

What did the music mean to What did the music mean to you?you?

• Track 1Track 1• DiscussionDiscussion• The track is called ‘Dawn’ The track is called ‘Dawn’

and is meant to evoke and is meant to evoke intermittent gusts of wind intermittent gusts of wind and lapping wavesand lapping waves

• Track 2Track 2• DiscussionDiscussion• The track is called ‘Storm’ The track is called ‘Storm’

and is meant to evoke and is meant to evoke images and of a violent images and of a violent sea sweeping everything sea sweeping everything before itbefore it

• Was your interpretation Was your interpretation similar to this? similar to this?

• The music you have just listened to suggests that the sea can be both The music you have just listened to suggests that the sea can be both peaceful, but also extremely powerful. In fact, the coast is dynamic- a peaceful, but also extremely powerful. In fact, the coast is dynamic- a great example of this can be found at East Head spit where both calm and great example of this can be found at East Head spit where both calm and stormy seas have created the landscapestormy seas have created the landscape

• By the end of the lesson, you will understand the physical processes and By the end of the lesson, you will understand the physical processes and the issues involved at East Headthe issues involved at East Head

An Example of a Small-Scale Coastline that An Example of a Small-Scale Coastline that has Changed over time- East Head Spit, West has Changed over time- East Head Spit, West

SussexSussex

Where is East Head?Where is East Head?

What is it What is it like?like?• The picture here The picture here

was taken from was taken from Google Earth Google Earth which lets you which lets you explore aerial explore aerial photography and photography and Bird’s Eye viewsBird’s Eye views

The ‘Hinge’- was going to be breached permanently until the rock berm was constructed

SpitsSpits• Spits are long, narrow accumulations of sand/shingle Spits are long, narrow accumulations of sand/shingle

with one end joined to the mainland and the other with one end joined to the mainland and the other projecting out to sea or across a river estuary.projecting out to sea or across a river estuary.

• They form where the orientation of the coastline They form where the orientation of the coastline changes. Sediment is deposited and it continues to changes. Sediment is deposited and it continues to grow over time.grow over time.

• They develop a hooked end due to a succession of They develop a hooked end due to a succession of storm events from the opposite direction to the storm events from the opposite direction to the prevailing wind, and also due to wave refraction.prevailing wind, and also due to wave refraction.

• Spits become more permanent when people build Spits become more permanent when people build groynes, but also naturally by the formation of salt groynes, but also naturally by the formation of salt marshes behind the spit.marshes behind the spit.

• Spits reach an equilibrium when stretching across an Spits reach an equilibrium when stretching across an estuary as the water becomes too deep for the estuary as the water becomes too deep for the sediment to continue to build above the level of the sediment to continue to build above the level of the sea. The strong currents of the river prevent them sea. The strong currents of the river prevent them from extending further too.from extending further too.

• The Animation will explain further!The Animation will explain further!Click here for a Flash animation showing how spits form from the Wycombe High School geography portal.

What Have You Found Out?What Have You Found Out?

• DiscussionDiscussion• Rates of retreat have been about 1-2 metres per year- Rates of retreat have been about 1-2 metres per year-

however, 1 metre was lost in a single storm events in 2000however, 1 metre was lost in a single storm events in 2000• The ‘hinge’ (the narrowest part) was breached in 1964 due The ‘hinge’ (the narrowest part) was breached in 1964 due

to high tides and strong storm events. It has also been to high tides and strong storm events. It has also been suggested that trampling of the sand dunes by tourists suggested that trampling of the sand dunes by tourists could have made things worsecould have made things worse

• 1786-1866: No defences along the coast- lots of sediment 1786-1866: No defences along the coast- lots of sediment reached the spit and it built upreached the spit and it built up

• Defences from 1887 onwards: lack of sediment supply and Defences from 1887 onwards: lack of sediment supply and wave action caused the spit to reduce in size and retreatwave action caused the spit to reduce in size and retreat

What has been done and why What has been done and why bother?bother?

• http://www.conservancy.co.uk/learn/places/easthead.htm has much more information on has much more information on this!this!

• A virtual field trip is available at A virtual field trip is available at http://www.conservancy.co.uk/learn/places/ft_easthead/easthead.htm

• I took a number of photos on I took a number of photos on my trip to East Head. However, my trip to East Head. However, unfortunately I have lost my unfortunately I have lost my notes on the protection notes on the protection strategies and also a record of strategies and also a record of where I took the photos. Can where I took the photos. Can you help me on the following you help me on the following slides?slides?

• You will need to plot on where You will need to plot on where the pictures were taken and in the pictures were taken and in which direction is was facingwhich direction is was facing

• Can you also suggest what Can you also suggest what management has taken place in management has taken place in the picture and why it was the picture and why it was used?used?

Place each of these pictures on the map Place each of these pictures on the map with an arrow pointing in the direction of with an arrow pointing in the direction of

which the photo was taken.. Part 1which the photo was taken.. Part 1

Place each of these pictures on the map with Place each of these pictures on the map with an arrow pointing in the direction of which an arrow pointing in the direction of which

the photo was taken.. Part 2the photo was taken.. Part 2

Next time… (some Next time… (some suggestions)suggestions)

• Follow-up tasks could include: Follow-up tasks could include: • Should it have been protected? Use the Should it have been protected? Use the

website to see what species are present on the website to see what species are present on the spit/ salt marshspit/ salt marsh

• Use tourist numbers to plot on map traffic Use tourist numbers to plot on map traffic counts/ pedestrian counts/ user surveys etc- counts/ pedestrian counts/ user surveys etc- this could be done using GISthis could be done using GIS

• Perhaps a list of possible defence methods with Perhaps a list of possible defence methods with costings- give the students a budget and they costings- give the students a budget and they have to present what they have done to have to present what they have done to manage/protect the spit- they could annotate a manage/protect the spit- they could annotate a map using an interactive white boardmap using an interactive white board

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