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Restoring dynamic dunescapes at Braunton Burrows

Plantlife has continued to lead the biggest sand dune restoration works ever attempted in the UK, with impressive results.

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A tall grass plant is in the foreground and a cool grassy dunescape is in the background

Our Dynamic Dunescapes partnership project has gained further momentum over the past year with the restoration of additional habitat for the benefit of some of our rarest plants and animals.  

The initiative aims to protect the exceptionally biodiverse sand dunes at Braunton Burrows in north Devon. It has seen Plantlife, Natural England, the National Trust and Christie Estates, which own Braunton Burrows, join forces to rejuvenate and proactively manage these unique habitats for our native species.

 

A habitat like no other

Surveys carried out at Braunton Burrows have shown it is home to a huge diversity of threatened species, including:   

  • 17 of the 19 UK National Vegetation Classification sand dune plant communities.   
  • At least 22 threatened, near-threatened and/or nationally rare or scarce species of vascular plants. 
  • A significant number of Annex I and II habitats and species under the EU Habitats Directive. 

Traditionally, plants at Braunton Burrows have thrived on its low nutrient, calcareous sands. However, conditions have changed dramatically over the last 80 years, with bare sand reducing from over 65% to just 3%. This has impacted significantly on dune specialist plants, which need open areas of bare sand and mobile dunes to flourish.

A landscape shot of a calm sea, blue sky and grassy dune areas with the diggers
An arial shot of a sandy coast showing paths carved into the dunes by the digger
A blue digger is carving a path between two grassy dunes
A landscape shot of a grassy dune scape with the sea in the distance

Our work to restore our vital sand dunes  

Together with partners, we have used funding from the EU and Heritage Lottery Fund to:   

  • Restore a further 12 hectares of dune slacks to provide habitats for some of our rarest plants and animals. This takes the total restored to 22 hectares over the past 2 years. 
  • Form 6 ‘notches’ in the fontal dunes to funnel fresh sand into the dune system. 
  • Remove 2 hectares of dominant, invasive species which are threatening native plants. 

We have also continued to survey the initial trial plots we created at Braunton Burrows some years ago. The results have been incredibly encouraging and show dramatic new populations of some of our most rare and threatened species are beginning to emerge. 

It’s wonderful to see the sand dunes I remember from my childhood reappearing again.


Guided walk participant
on seeing newly completed works

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