Keywords:
mainland dunes
dune dynamics
integrated management
Contact: Sefton Coast & Countryside Service,
Ainsdale Discovery Centre Complex, The Promenade, Ainsdale-on-Sea,
PR8 2QB, Tel; 01704 570173, Fax; 01704 575628
Location: United Kingdom, NW England, Sefton Coast
Sefton Coast
Sefton coast is a siliceous dune system bordering the West Lancashire
sedimentary plain in north-west England. The Sefton dunes together
with other sea defences provide a barrier against inudation
of the low lying agricultural land. Key issues at Sefton coast
are: coast defence (erosion), nature conservation and tourism
/ recreation.
Management
The problem of dune management in the United Kingdom is that there
is a distinction between sea defence (concerning floodings) and
coast protection (protect the land from erosion). The Sefton Coast
Management Scheme coordinates the strategic management of the
area. The new dynamic approach puts nature conservation at first
stake. The aims of the project are :
- remove scrub and pine plantation to restore open dune habitats,
thereby reintroducing sheep grazing for sustainable mamagement.
- monitoring of hydrological conditions and conservation of
wet slack habitats.
- enhancement and protection of dune dynamics through a better
understanding of geomorphological processes.
One of the taken measures is zoning. In the nature conservation
area ( the fore dune areas), dynamic processes are allowed, in the
areas for recreation blow outs are stabilised.
Dune dynamics
In the inner dunes a natural approach is adopted and blow outs
and developing wet slacks are actively encouraged, because severe
dune stabilisation puts rare habitats and species at risk . The
lack of grazing has overstabilised the dunes. Coastal erosion,
at rates of up to 5 m a year occur along Formby Point but both
to the north and to the south of this area of erosion are zones
of active accretion. At Southport accretion is leading to
the rapid growth of new dune ridges and the development of slacks.
Erosion is very vulnerable to overuse by grazing or recreation.
Coastal erosion is a major threat to the sea defence. Significant
dune erosion occurs when major storms coincide with high tides.
Conifer planting reduces sand mobility and encourages scrub growth,
so this is avoided in the nature conservation area.
Results
In 1999 aerial photographs are made to monitor the dynamic dunes
and areas of bare sand have been mapped. This way a comparison
can be made of the situation ten years ago, and the recent situation
to see if adoptions have to be made.
Sefton Coast
References :
- J. Houston, Dune conservation in England, The Sefton Coast
Life Project, Coastline 1996-3 4-7
- J. Houston, P. Rooney, Management of dunes and dune heaths;
experience on the Sefton Coast, North west England, 121-129,
Report from a European Seminar, Coastal Dunes - management,
protection and research, Skagen, Denmark, 1997. available at
EUCC
- Sefton Coast candidate Special Area of Conservation, draft
conservation strategy Februari 1999, Council Offices, Formby
