Why is the Heritage Coast important?

The Heritage Coast is important to people and to wildlife. 

The coast provides several different and important habitats for wildlife including high, rocky cliffs, rock pools, sandy beaches, caves and muddy estuaries where a variety of specialised plants and animals live. Click here to find out more about coastal wildlife.

The coast provides access to the sea and a good location for people to live.

The coast provides jobs for local people. In the past many people worked in fishing, now tourism provides more jobs.

The coast provides us with clues to the past. Every rock or pebble on the beach can tell a story about how it was formed and where it came from.  

The coast can tell us about wildlife of the past. Fossils of plants and animals found in the rocks tell us what this area was like millions of years ago. Geologists have even discovered footprints fossilised in the rocks from dinosaurs that lived over 130 million years ago!

The coast is a brilliant place to visit and attracts millions of visitors every year. These visitors buy food, accommodation and souvenirs and this helps local businesses.