Historic Coastal Rewilding Puts Hurst Castle at Risk

The proposed rewilding strategy focuses on transforming the natural landscape along the Hampshire coastline by permitting sections of the shingle bank known as Hurst Spit to gradually flood. The Environment Agency’s plan involves realigning the existing land, constructing embankments, and ultimately letting nature take its course, which is expected to lead to the development of new salt marshes over time.

This natural transformation raises concerns among local residents and stakeholders who fear the historic Hurst Castle could end up isolated from the mainland if the spit erodes further. Local campaigners and harbour advisory representatives express worry that the natural reshaping of the coastline might leave both the castle and the nearby town of Lymington increasingly vulnerable to the force of the sea, as tidal waters may breach the spit.

Despite the controversy, the Environment Agency maintains that there is no intention to deliberately disrupt Hurst Spit, acknowledging only that rising sea levels and ongoing coastal erosion are major threats to the area’s important habitats and cultural landmarks over the coming century.