Wednesday 2nd April 2025 - £1.28 million to Improve Sea Defences and Hostas at the Gardening Club

Many thanks to two villagers who told us about a report on BBC’s website, covering proposed works here in Overstrand.  I found the report and as, over a period of time, this will probably no longer be available, I have chosen to copy and paste the details below. (I have given full credit to the BBC for this report and therefore not infringing copyright.)

‘A council has agreed to spend £1.28m to improve sea defences which councillors were told had become "severely degraded".

Cabinet members of the Liberal Democrat-controlled North Norfolk District Council voted to back proposals to carry out work on the sea wall at Overstrand.

A report warned that two major fractures have appeared in the wall, which has become undermined as sand on the beach has been washed away.

It recommended that the local authority approved the works and advised that the council may be able to get a grant of about £400,000 from the government to help with costs.

Council leader Tim Adams said it was "crucial work that we've got to get on top of".

A section of the wall that is often used as a promenade was closed to the public earlier this month after what was described as a "cliff-slip".

Coastal erosion has been a serious issue along the north Norfolk coastline for some time, with Happisburgh badly affected.

Meanwhile, major work has taken place to better protect Cromer and Mundesley.

Work began last year to improve coastal defences at Cromer, with 32,500 tonnes of rock being added to the shoreline.

The report, external on Overstrand's sea wall warned that if it were to fail, there would be "a significantly detrimental impact" on the local community and economy.

It said in the last financial year, more than a third of the council's coastal repair and maintenance budget of £300,000 had been spent on works in the village – and that costs were likely to keep increasing.’

I have also posted the link to the BBC’s report on Facebook, which resulted in some interesting comments.  Currently there is no indication as to when the works will start.  Presumably, the first steps will be, to secure funding and put the project out to tender.

Yesterday afternoon, I went to the Gardening Club meeting in the Parish Hall.  Ken Abel, who gave a talk last year about pelargoniums, returned to give a presentation covering hostas.  Slugs are renowned for destroying hosta leaves so Ken was quick to tell us he uses a garlic-based product to keep them at bay.  All of his five hundred specimens are grown in pots and kept out of direct sunlight, to avoid scorched leaves.  He gave us some good tips, including how to deal with rogue leaves, setting seeds, dividing plants as well as how to treat the plants at the end of the growing season. We have just one hosta which was originally in a border, where thanks to slugs, it was struggling.  Now in a pot, each year it produces spikes of delicate flowers and so far (touch wood) has avoided slug damage.  Today’s photo is of our hosta, taken during the summer of 2023.