PART of Studland Beach in Dorset will be closed for a ‘re-wilding’ project by the National Trust.
To encourage wildlife, work is taking place on Middle Beach which will be closed throughout this winter and into 2026.
Middle Beach will be closed in late 2025 for a ‘re-wilding’ project[/caption]
Studland Beach is divided up into Knoll Beach, Middle Beach, South Beach, and Shell Bay.
And from September 8, 2025, stone and concrete defences, as well as metal cages filled with rocks, called gabions, along Middle Beach will be removed.
The works will mean that Middle Beach is realigned into a natural sandy cove with improved habitat for wildlife.
While work is going on, Middle Beach will be closed to the public until October, but the car park and Sandy Salt Pig cafe will remain open.
Over the winter and into 2026, the public will be warned to stay away from the area where the gabions have been due to the risk of the cliff collapsing.
It’s the final stage of a five-year wildlife project by the National Trust.
Sand lizards and slow worms have already been moved from the area in preparation for the work.
Tracey Churcher, general manager for the National Trust in Purbeck, told Somerset Live: “Removing the broken and now toppling, gabion sea defences – wire baskets filled with stones – is the last stage in a long process.
“The gabions are no longer effective against the rising tides, and they are also collapsing and pose a risk to the public.
“Rather than fighting the inevitable effects of coastal change, we agree with the local Shoreline Management Plan for Studland which recommends the removal of failing sea defences, leading towards a more natural shoreline.”
Tracey added: “As well as the gabions, it involves removing the concrete slipway. Taking out these defences won’t pose any threat to dwellings or other permanent buildings.”
There are many great beaches in Dorset, and one has an award-winning pub too.
Chesil Beach is the longest and largest in the UK – it stretches for 18 miles from Portland to West Bay in Dorset.
In fact, Chesil Beach actually connects the Isle of Portland to the mainland, and on the Isle of Portland, visitors can enjoy the views of Chesil Beach from a great coastal pub.
Big 7 Travel has dropped a list of their 25 best spots for a seaside pint and Portland’s Cove House Inn has made an appearance on the list.
The Cove House Inn is an 18th-century pub on the Isle of Portland in Dorset and sits right on the esplanade, visitors can sit outside under sun umbrellas and enjoy a pint.
On the menu is a selection of burgers from £13.50, lots of seafood dishes from fish pie to wholetail scampi and fish and chips.
The pub has impressive views and dolphins are sometimes spotted off the coast as are porpoises and some people have even said they’ve seen whales.
Read more from one writer who says “ditch Cornwall for my perfect seaside county this summer – we have better beaches and attractions”.
Plus, here’s a lesser visited ‘hidden gem’ English beach where you can spot dolphins and find dinosaur fossils.
Part of Studland Beach will be closed for the rest of the year[/caption]