The wearing-away of beach, soil, rock or dune sediments near the shore due to waves, tides or drainage which can also be exacerbated by human phenomena. Coastal erosion usually poses more problems for human settlements rather than the natural environment itself. Human activity can increase the rate of coastal erosion. For instance, Hallsands in Devon, England was a coastal village that was washed away overnight–exacerbated by dredging in the bay in front of it. Experts also see a relationship between climate change and higher rates of coastal erosion.