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Sand recycling and actions to reduce sand on the car park at Summerleaze

Background

The Future Coast Bude project is funded through the Defra Flood and Coastal Innovation Programme. The focus of the project is about promoting adaptation actions to help communities transition away from eroding coastlines.

The coastline at Summerleaze is evolving, and rising sea levels will increasingly place pressure on nearby buildings and the car park. This project aims to work closely with the community and key partner organisations to explore future options for the area, ensuring that vital public facilities and amenities are preserved and planned for in a sustainable, managed way.

The immediate challenge

One of the challenges at Summerleaze car park, owned by Cornwall Council, is the area south of the RNLI lifeboat station where dunes have been unable to establish. Because this space must remain clear for the RNLI to launch their boat, the sand is exposed to prevailing south‑westerly winds, which blow it into the car park and cause it to accumulate there.

The policies

The coastal sand dune at Summerleaze is categorised as a priority habitat by the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and the Bude Neighbourhood Development Plan policy intent is to 'protect and enhance' the dunes at Summerleaze.

The Shoreline Management Plan policy for this location is Managed Realignment. This means changing the position of the shoreline in a controlled way, such as by slowing down erosion or creating habitats to help manage flooding.

A Marine Monitoring Organisation licence would be required for any work taking place below mean high water.

Feedback from the community

The project has listened to feedback from the community on their concerns about sand accumulating on Summerleaze car park, including receiving responses from over 250 people on an online survey.

Around half of people who responded to this survey had experienced problems caused by sand in the car park, and people felt very strongly that this wind-blown sand should be moved.

In particular, those with disabilities were particularly affected by this sand, with it causing issues with accessing the beach.

What the project is doing

The Future Coast Bude project team have agreed to facilitate conversations between internal Cornwall Council teams, as well as wider stakeholders, to understand whether there are any short-term options that can be considered to:

a) remove sand from the car park and

b) reduce the amount of sand that blows on to the car park in the future.

These discussions have been guided by four key principles:

• Sand dunes intercept energy from storm tides and waves, in turn helping reduce flood and erosion risks in areas behind them. As such, the Summerleaze dunes provide these benefits to parts of Bude. This is recognised and set out in the Shoreline Management Plan for Summerleaze beach.
• Sand should be retained in the coastal cell to support a healthy beach (i.e. no off-site removal).
• Sand can only be relocated to areas above mean high water spring, negating the need for licences.
• Any parts of the dune adjacent to the car park with established vegetation should not be disturbed.

A number of options were considered by a range of stakeholders who have involvement in the Summerleaze car park.

The agreed proposal is:

1. Cornwall Council Car Parks will fund Cormac to clear wind-blown sand from several spaces in Summerleaze car park in March 2026. The work will take place after the high spring tides but before the tourist season begins. Sand will only be removed from areas where dunes are not established, ensuring that the dune remains stable and that RNLI operations and public safety are not affected. The cleared sand will be placed at the front of the dune, above the high-water mark, along the exposed rock armour. No licences are required for this activity. This approach is considered the best way to protect existing vegetation and habitats while allowing the sand to naturally reintegrate into the dune system over time. Updates and information about the project will be shared on the Future Coast Bude website.
   
   
2. Sand will be cleared on a more frequent basis, for the 12 months from March 2026 – March 2027 by Bude-Stratton Town Council Facilities Team. The Town Council will be reimbursed for the work by Cornwall Council car parks team.

This process will be undertaken for the period of the project, up until March 2027. Community consultation will be taking place in parallel to this work, the outputs of which will help to guide any long-term plan for the car park.

As well as recycling the sand back on to the sand dune, the project team have been working with a coastal engineering specialist, the RNLI and Bude Dunes Group to co-design some options to reduce the amount of sand that reaches the car park. Options that have been considered include:

• Narrowing the path back to 2001 size, with a greater area established and stabilised with grasses.
• Reducing public access to this area and encouraging use just for RNLI access.
• Realigning the direction of the path so that it is not exposed to the prevailing wind.
• Putting in options which would help stabilise the dune, for example a boardwalk or matting that would help hold sand in placed.
• Moving the RNLI access way to another location.

These options are being worked up with the hope that some of them will be implemented in Spring 2026.

Cornwall Councillor, Peter LaBroy said, “Wind blown sand on Summerleaze car park has become an increasing challenge. I am delighted that through the work of the Defra funded Future Coast Bude project, a short-term arrangement has been agreed. This will alleviate the existing pressure on parking at Summerleaze and give the community of Bude time to get involved in the consultation events that will be happening in 2026. These events will outline the priorities and direction for the coastline in Bude in the long-term, including decisions about how to adapt to future pressures.”

Show Us Bude Through Your Eyes!

Our coastline is always changing – and so is Bude. From dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches to everyday life by the sea, we want to celebrate what makes our coastal town special.

Before we begin a wider community conversation next year, we’re starting with something creative. The Shifting Shores postcard competition invites residents to share their vision of coastal Bude – past, present or future – through photography, painting, drawing, digital artwork or mixed media.

The winning design will be printed on postcards delivered to every household in Bude and Stratton in early 2026, helping to kick-start the next stage of the Future Coast Bude project – working together to build a resilient future for our coast and community.

Enter today and help shape how we tell the story of Bude’s changing coast.

Entry Guidelines

1. Eligibility

• The Competition is open to residents of Bude and Stratton of all ages.
• Entrants under 18 must have permission from a parent or guardian to take part.
• The competition is open to everyone — whether you’re a professional, hobbyist, or first-time creator. Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, and how well they capture the spirit of coastal Bude, not on technical skill.
• Each entrant may submit one entry only.

2. Theme

The theme “Shifting Shores” invites you to capture what coastal Bude means to you – in spirit, scenery, people and places, past, present or future.

Your artwork might reflect:

• Bude’s coastal heritage – landmarks, history, or traditional seaside life.
• Bude today – beach scenes, surf culture, community events, or daily life by the sea.
• Bude’s changing coast – creative reflections on how our shoreline and community evolve over time.

3. Accepted Formats

• Digital submissions: JPEG or PNG format, 300dpi resolution.
• Physical submissions: Flat A4 artwork (no 3D materials) suitable for scanning or photography.
• Accepted media: photos, paintings, drawings, digital artwork or mixed media.
• The winning design will be reproduced on an A6 postcard (148 x 105 mm / 5.8 x 4.1 inches), so entrants may wish to consider this size and proportion when creating their artwork.

4. How to Enter

• By email: Send your entry to futurecoastbude@cornwall.gov.uk with your name, contact details, and optional caption (max 50 words).
• In person: Drop off physical artwork at the council offices in the Parkhouse Centre (EX23 8LD) during opening hours.

Each entry must include:

• Entrant’s full name
• Entrant's postcode
• Contact details (email or phone)
• Optional short caption or description (up to 50 words)

5. Closing Date

Entries must be received by Friday 14 November 2025.

Late entries cannot be accepted.

6. Judging and Selection

• Entries will be judged by representatives from Bude-Stratton Town Council and Future Coast Bude.
• Judging criteria: creativity, relevance to the coastal theme, visual appeal and suitability for postcard format and printing.
• One winning design will be selected.
• The judges’ decision is final.

7. Prizes

• The winning design will appear on a community postcard delivered to every Bude & Stratton household in early 2026.
• Winners will receive recognition on the Future Coast Bude website, social media and local press where possible.
• Selected entries may also feature in a local display or online gallery.

8. Copyright and Permissions

• Entries must be the entrant’s own original work.
• By entering, participants agree that Future Coast Bude, Bude-Stratton Town Council and Defra may use their artwork (with credit) in project materials including, but not limited to, postcards, websites, exhibitions and social media.
• Intellectual property rights in any materials created through the project are owned by Defra, in line with the programme’s funding conditions.
• Entrants will always be credited wherever their work is used.

9. Data Protection

Personal data will be used only to administer the competition and contact winners. Information will be handled in line with Bude-Stratton Town Council’s Privacy Policy.

10. General

• No entry fee is required.
• The organisers reserve the right to amend or cancel the competition if necessary.
• Submitting an entry implies acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.

CoastCraft launch – explore coastal resilience through a Minecraft world based on Bude!

What is CoastCraft?

CoastCraft is an educational game designed for students aged 9-14 (in England – Upper Primary Key stage 2 and lower secondary key stage 3). This game transports players to the coastal town of Bude in North Cornwall, modelled in MinecraftEducation™ by BlockBuilders. Playing CoastCraft introduces students to the dynamic processes of shaping coastal areas and challenges them to make decisions that balance the needs of various stakeholders while protecting the environment.

Who developed CoastCraft?

Based on the landscape of the town of Bude in Cornwall, the game has been developed in partnership by Minecraft Education, Cornwall Council and the Environment Agency as part of the latter’s £200m Flood and Coastal Innovation Programme.

Is CoastCraft part of the Future Coast Bude project?

Although CoastCraft is based in Bude, it is not part of the Future Coast Bude project. It is funded though Making Space for Sand. This is another project led by Cornwall Council and funded through the Defra Flood and Coastal Innovation Programme. This project covers a number of sites across Cornwall.

The aim of the Making Space for Sand Project is to encourage the more sustainable use and development of the coastal fringe to allow for a more natural, ecosystem approach to coastal management where traditional coastal protection is not possible. To find out more about Making Space for Sand visit their website: Home Page - Making Space for sand

CoastCraft is based on the sand dunes at Summerleaze beach. Does the game affect what is planned for the future of Summerleaze?

No. However, the game is based on real life modelling and shows the actual impacts that different decisions will have on the local area. The aim of CoastCraft is to give young people around the world the opportunity to understand more about coastal processes and what the competing needs are of a range of stakeholders.

CoastCraft places students onto Summerleaze in the present day. The game introduces the processes which are currently shaping the area, and provides the player with an opportunity to make important decisions while developing coastal resilience in the local community.

The Future Coast Bude project will be working with the community in Bude to plan for what their vision is for the coastline in Bude in the future. This will be done by working closely with the community to understand what is most important to them, and how a range of pressures and interests (just like in the game) can be balanced in the future, in the face of rising sea levels and coastal erosion.

How were Budehaven School involved in the project?

Students in Years 7 and 8 at Budehaven School were given the opportunity to play the game in advance of the launch. They were filmed playing the game and interviewed about how they found it. This footage was developed in a short film which is being used to promote CoastCraft.

CoastCraft was launched on 3 October and young people from Budehaven school were also involved in the launch.

How can I play CoastCraft?

CoastCraft can be played on the Minecraft™: Education Edition. It can be downloaded free and installed on many different types of device. You will need a Microsoft 365 account and you will need to search for “CoastCraft” in the Library.

The Bude Canal was opened on the 8th July 1823. The purpose of the canal being built was mainly to bring lime rich sand for agricultural fertiliser to the hilly hinterland and the local farms. The Bude Canal system was one of the most unusual in Britain. If was remarkable in using six inclined planes which enabled tug boats, measuring 20ft x 5.6ft x 3.20ft to be hauled to the upper levels. It had a total extent of 35 1/2 miles (56km), and it rose from sea level to the upper levels.
	The original plan had been to use barges to transport sand through the sea lock. However, this was not considered effective and a system of rail tracks designed for trucks pulled by horses was developed instead. Some of the rails are still visible on the beach today, and it is the rails running down the path to the beach that have been incorporated into the newly restored access way.
The sea lock is one of only two in the UK, and was enlarged to its current size in 1838. it is 119ft x 30ft x 30ft and requires a minimum depth of 9ft 6" of sea water to operate. The lock is still in use today and is operated by a volunteer crew. The original breakwater was built in 1820. It was rebuilt in 1838 following a violent storm to the design we see today. The breakwater is vital in protecting the harbour and helping ensure the safe passage of ships.

Photographs courtesy of The Castle Heritage Centre.

Work has continued on the walkway with various sections now completed at the seaward and landward canal path ends.

The final walkway section left to complete is located in the middle of the tramway walkway close to the dwarf wall and tramway siding. This last section to be completed will incorporate the historic granite setts into the final surface which used to support the sand tramway siding rails.

Before work started, the positions of all the granite setts were surveyed. Before the new surfacing was laid, the setts were put back in their existing positions, and were set to the new walkway finished level.

The final concrete bay has now been excavated. In this area, the new walkway is wider than it was originally, requiring the bank to be dug out. During this work, approximately ten of the historic granite setts were uncovered. It is likely that over time, these setts have come loose from the section of the walkway that is regularly under water at high tide. It is thought that to prevent these loose setts being washed out to sea, they had been moved to an area that is not submerged by the high tide, and over time, these have become buried by soil. As the work to the walkway where these setts have come from is already complete, unfortunately they will not be able to be reinstated. They are being safely stored, and we would welcome thoughts from the community as to how best they should be used or displayed in the future.

Past the seaward end of the tramway walkway the surface defects in the existing concrete walkway have been cleaned and repaired to ensure a smooth and accessible walkway surface is provided all the way down to the beach.

Preparation of tramway siding area foundation and replacement rails before concrete walkway pouring.	Finished section of concrete walkway with granite setts freshly finished exposed aggregate finish.	Concrete repairs to historic surface defects in lower section of tramway walkway underway.

Works have been progressing at speed on the sand tramway surfacing now the revetment works are complete. Sections of walkway surfacing have now been completed at the top of the sand tramway and at the seaward end. Preparation works on the middle sections now underway.

In the section adjacent to the dwarf retaining wall, the historic cobbles have been relocated in their original historic positions, however raised in their height, to be incorporated in the finished walkway surface.

As walkway sections are completed, movement joints are filled with a flexible mastic. This will prevent future cracking when the sections of concrete slabs expand and contract with temperature changes.

The footprints in the concrete at the beach end of the walkway are starting to be filled, to ensure that the walkway is accessible all the way down to the beach. This work will continue this week.

Health and safety challenges due to high spring tides had to be managed over the weekend, but with the tide falling to neaps, this should not be a problem in the coming weeks.

Preparation of historic granite setts for inclusion into final concrete surface.	Freshly finished walkway surface after pressure washing top layer of cement off to expose concrete aggregate.	Finished aggregate foundation for walkway with replacement rails relocated along original alignment.	Holes being filled at the beach end of the walkway.

The Future Coast Bude team will be at stand 87 at the Holsworthy and Stratton Agricultural Show on Thursday 28 August. Come and chat to us to find out more about the project and how you can be involved.