the falls seem quite localised as the face is made up of different materiels, that nearest the cottages/cafe seems to have a lot of soil mixed in with the chalk which i assume is what makes it more prone to collapsing..

Indeed, a bod from National Trust was on local news last week, and he confirmed that local geology makes Birling Gap particularly prone to erosion, as compared to the adjacent cliffs. This winter saw Birling Gap eroded by the same amount as would normally be lost over seven winters, so a fairly substantial loss, and no doubt more will fall as the waves continue to undercut the foot of the cliff over next few months too…

As for standing too close to the edge, being locals we regularly walk along the Seven Sisters and over Seaford Head, and yes, it gives me the w1ll1es to see just how close people get to the edge, even when there are obvious signs of erosion (large cracks in the grass, and “sinking” of the areas of the surface close to the cliff edge etc)…. and it is clear that many visitors to the area have no idea how high the risk of a sudden fall is….or how badly the cliffs have sufferrd this last winter….. and as for the idiots who choose to sit right on the lip with legs dangling over the 90 foot drop….

I am suprised no-one has said the whole of the cliff should be fenced off given the litigious nature of modern society…..personally I’d like to see it left unfenced, and let “natural selection” sort things out :highly_amused: