DRAWING A LINE IN THE SAND

In this episode of When Land Meets the Sea, Richard Snape and Elizabeth Collin continue to explore the law of the foreshore, the strip of land lying between high and low water marks that forms the ever-changing boundary between land and sea.

Drawing on cases including Attorney-General v Chambers (1854), Blundell v Catterall (1821) and Bocardo SA v Star Energy Weald Basin Ltd (2010), Richard unpacks who owns the foreshore, the extent of public rights over beaches, and how the law balances private ownership with public access.

The episode also examines the development of the England and Wales Coast Path, exploring how these coastal access routes have expanded opportunities for the public to enjoy the coastline while raising important questions about land ownership, and access rights.