Sand dunes are listed as the habitat most at risk in Europe.  They are a sanctuary for endangered plants and animals like the dune gentian and sand lizard.  However, many are being smothered and fixed by a tide of invasive scrub, becoming sterile, grassy hillocks. 

Now HLF has given initial support for a £4.1million grant to an innovative four-year partnership project, Dynamic Dunescapes, which will restore some of the most important sand dune landscapes in England and Wales.

Natural England, National Trust, Plantlife, The Wildlife Trusts and Natural Resources Wales will work with local coastal communities to conserve and restore up to 7000hectares in nine areas across England and Wales.

The early stages of the project will explore how to re-establish the natural movement within dunes and to create the conditions that some of our rarest wildlife relies upon. 

The projects will include:

• a programme of removal of native and non-native invasive species
• restoration and creation of dune slacks and dune wetlands
• turf stripping and sand scraping to create bare sand patches
• community education activity and a volunteering programme

Sites that will benefit

Work will improve the condition of nine identified dune cluster sites at: Lincolnshire Sand Hills; Studland Dunes, Dorset; North Cornwall Coast; Braunton Burrows; North Devon Coast; Swansea/Neath Port Talbot; Carmarthen; Anglesey/Gwynedd; Sefton Coast; and Cumbrian Coast/Solway.