The people of Happisburgh have had a lifetime of trying to tame the sea. Here we see just one of the many sets of groynes on this long stretch of beach trying (in vain) to check erosion .

“A toothed groyne, also known as a permeable groyne or a flow-control structure, differs significantly from the impermeable structures used here at Happisburgh. These "toothed" groynes have gaps to allow some sediment and water to pass through.
Function: This design is intended to slow down longshore drift—the movement of sediment along the coast—and reduce wave energy, but not stop it completely. They allow some sediment to continue moving down the coast, which can prevent the severe erosion of beaches on the down-drift side.
The historical, solid timber groynes at Happisburgh were designed to completely stop longshore drift in their immediate location. When these failed, they exacerbated erosion further down the coast. The "toothed" design is generally considered a more modern and environmentally sensitive approach to coastal management”.

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