Hengistbury Head is an area of much tourism – it has an attractive coastal landscape. As it is on the South coast, the weather is generally good and so there are many overpriced beach huts available to rent. There is also a water activity centre (where we had our lesson) where water sports such as sailing can be done can be done. There is a golf course and walking is popular at the Head. This means that Hengistbury Head makes a lot of money due to tourism.
Christchurch is a town just next to Hengistbury Head and if Hengistbury Head is eroded away, then Christchurch will be vulnerable to floods. This means that house prices will drop and that fewer people will want to buy houses in the area. Flood insurance prices will soar through the roof – losing very much money.
Hengistbury Head is very important archaeologically. People can trace back finds from up to 10,000 years ago, as it has many ancient monuments. Almost from every period there have been archaeological finds (see “History of Hengistbury Head” and “Archaeological Evidence”).
One of the main arguments for protection of the head is the fact that we eroded Hengistbury Head in the first place – we should mend our mistake instead of simply learning from it. 1.5 million people and 0.5 million dogs walk on the head every year. The Hengistbury mining co. was the real culprit as it removed the Head’s natural defence – ironstone.
Many people however, do not want to save the Headland. Erosion is a natural process and humans should not stop it – Hengistbury Head was possibly two headlands and one probably eroded. The millions of pounds that are “wasted” could be used for something else. Better schooling, building the economy, reducing poverty could all be achieved with such a large amount of money that we are spending on the land.
This is not the case however, as erosion of Hengistbury Head is not all natural. In the last hundred years, Hengistbury Head has more than halved –the rate of erosion has accelerated to light speed – all because of humans. Moreover, Hengistbury probably earned the U.K. more than it cost, due to tourism and ironstone mining.
In conclusion, I myself believe that Hengistbury Head should be protected. If we do not then eventually Christchurch shall be no more. Hengistbury Head earns a large amount of money due to tourism. It is a scientific and archaeological gem that needs to be preserved.
