Action Plan: Sand Dunes

Sand dunes occur where there is a sufficiently large expanse of beach for sand to dry out between high tides and adequate onshore wind to blow the sand inland and deposit it above the high water mark where it becomes trapped by dune building grasses. The botanical diversity of dune grasses is dependent on low intensity grazing which limits the growth of more robust plants and allows a wider range of species to thrive. Dunes are naturally mobile, moving backwards or forwards depending on coastal processes. However, road construction and agricultural use of land means that dunes are no longer able to retreat inland as the front edge becomes eroded and this problem will be exacerbated by sea level rise. Dunes are particularly vulnerable to erosion once damage has occurred and this can rapidly increase forming large unstable depressions in the dunes. Damage can be caused by recreational pressures such as trampling however, the conservation of these habitats needs to be carefully managed to balance the needs of visitors whilst protecting the dune grasslands.