Wooden groyne coastal defenses at Porlock Beach, Exmoor National Park, Somerset, England, United Kingdom. Europe

Wooden groyne sea defenses on Bossington Beach at sunset, Exmoor National Park, Somerset, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Weathered wooden coastal defenses on Bossington Beach, Exmoor National Park, Somerset, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Sea defenses on the pebbly beach at Sheringham, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Fishguard Harbour wall and lighthouse with sea defences, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK

Storm Barriers, Netherlands

Storm surge barrier, Delta Works, Zeeland, Holland, Netherlands, Europe

Storm surge barrier, Delta Works, Zeeland, Holland, Netherlands, Europe

Cannon in the Turkish fort of Larnaka, Larnaca, Southern Cyprus, Cyprus, Europe

Cannon on the ramparts of Saint Malo in Brittany, France, Europe

Smashed concrete sea defenses at Ulrome near Skipsea on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. The sea has eroded past the barriers and left them stranded further down the beach. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

England, West Sussex; Bognor Regis, Wooden groynes at low tide used as sea defences against erosion of the shingle pebble beach seen through metal railings with colourful flags on the pier.

England, Hampshire, Milford on Sea, Second world war defences at Hurst Castle to defend the strategically important Solent.

England, Hampshire, Milford on Sea, Second world war defences at Hurst Castle to defend the strategically important Solent.