Durham Heritage Coast
The Durham Heritage Coast at Easington with Beacon Hill in the background.
The Durham Coast once had a number of coal mines operating along the clifftops, mining coal from seams out under the sea.
At a time when the environment wasn't as respected as it is today, it was convenient to simply dump the mine waste directly on the beaches.
This went on for years and as a consequence, what were once beautiful beaches, were blackened by the pollution.
After the collieries closed, there was a focus on the legacy of the industry. The mining sites were cleared and landscaped, but there was another legacy that needed to be sorted.
Between 1997 and 2002, a £10 million project was carried out bringing together a number of different agencies in a partnership to clear up the blighted coast.
The partnership was given the name 'Turning the Tide' and it did wonders for the Durham coast.
Durham Heritage Coast
The Durham Heritage Coast at Easington with Beacon Hill in the background.
The Durham Coast once had a number of coal mines operating along the clifftops, mining coal from seams out under the sea.
At a time when the environment wasn't as respected as it is today, it was convenient to simply dump the mine waste directly on the beaches.
This went on for years and as a consequence, what were once beautiful beaches, were blackened by the pollution.
After the collieries closed, there was a focus on the legacy of the industry. The mining sites were cleared and landscaped, but there was another legacy that needed to be sorted.
Between 1997 and 2002, a £10 million project was carried out bringing together a number of different agencies in a partnership to clear up the blighted coast.
The partnership was given the name 'Turning the Tide' and it did wonders for the Durham coast.