A popular cliff-top garden in the UK has been closed to the public amid fears it is about to collapse and plunge into the sea below.
The Alum Chine Tropical Gardens in Bournemouth, Dorset, is feared to be on the verge of disaster due to erosion, but the local council say they can’t afford to fund work to stabalise the 100ft cliff – so have closed the attraction due to safety fears. The area had already suffered a massive landlside that sent hundreds of tonnes of soil, undergrowth and rocks down the same area of the cliff last year. It pushed a row of beach huts at the bottom across the promenade which has been closed off ever since. The gardens had previously been a popular tourist attraction enjoyed by thousands of tourists who used the paths running through it to access the beach.
It ejoys its own micro-climate that allows tropical and subtropical plants such as chusan palm trees and yuccas and to thrive all year round. In 1892, an 18-year-old Winston Churchill visited the park where he had a near-fatal accident on a suspension bridge spanning the chine. While playing a game of tag with his younger cousins, Churchill jumped from the secluded bridge for an overhanging tree branch, missed it and plunged 30ft to the ground, suffering serious head injuries.
Up until recently the sheltered gardens were maintained by a group of dedicated volunteers, but after carrying out a geological survey, BCP Council took the decision to close the site. The survey identified a potential risk of the cliff slipping down in the future, although the report has not been made public. Oddly, a children’s play park and a council-run cafe in the same area have been allowed to contunue operating as usual.
Some volunteers have criticised BCP Council for being too risk-adverse and for not having the money to invest in the cliff structure. Keith Baker, one of the volunteers, said the decision did not make sense. He said: “Due to the costs associated with necessary cliff-top works to reduce the risk of landslides, it is unlikely that the gardens will reopen to the public or the gardening team in the future.
“The paths through this beautiful tropical paradise are now closed. We have asked for the geologist report to be made public but we sense that the council is closing ranks here. We want to understand the risk by public review of the report and get a more realistic approach to public safety at the site.
“The volunteer gardening team remains determined to restore public access to the gardens before they become overgrown and neglected. On the issue of the real risk to the public, the occasional walkers along the paths or steps are much less at risk in terms of duration than say family groups at the play area at the bottom. We suspect from our knowledge of the site that any slide from the sand cliff would fall down on the play area.”
Local resident Chris Stevens said: “There is a real risk averse attitude in our council right now.” Malcolm Wallen: “This is really very sad and disappointing, it is such an enjoyable walk down to the beach, the gardens were such a lovely bonus for holiday makers and locals alike. We are a tourist destination so all these beautiful areas closing seems rather short sighted.”
Richard Herrett, portfolio holder for destination, leisure & commercial operations at BCP Council, said: “Our Flood and Coastal team (FCERM) have advised that the area of Alum Chine Tropical Gardens is at potential risk of a cliff slip. The cliffs are a natural feature of our seafront and due to their continued exposure to the weather, do change over time.
“In the interests of public safety, we are taking several precautionary measures whilst careful assessments of this area continue. The paths through the tropical gardens near the cliff face will remain closed whilst we look at options for funding future stabilisation works, in the meantime there is still access through the rest of the gardens on other paths.
“To evaluate the impact of climate change in the BCP area, and to reduce this across our natural and built environments, teams from across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council work closely all year-round to ensure we proactively manage coastal flood and erosion risks.”
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