FORMBY Over 190 Years in the Local Community
£2145 22 August 2018
Vol 25 l Issue 34
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PROJECT LAUNCHED TO SAVE FORMBY’S THREATENED SAND DUNES £4.3 million worth of funding is announced to help restore and protect ‘at risk’ habitats
Report by Danielle Thompson
FORMBY’S famous sand dunes are under threat - but a pioneering new project could be about to breath new life into them thanks to a multi-million-pound conservation boost. Healthy dunes with moving sand are a sanctuary for endangered plants and animals but these habitats are currently being smothered by a tide of invasive non-native plants turning it into scrubland. Sand dunes are now one of the most at-risk habitats in Europe and only 20,000 hectares remain across England and Wales – an area around half the size of the Isle of Wight. But now the DuneLIFE project will help Natural England improve the condition of key sand dune sites at Formby, Southport and nearby Crosby. The scheme aims to help endangered plants and animals by removing invasive species, restoring sand dunes and dune slacks and creating bare sand patches by turf stripping and sand scraping. Natural England are working in partnership with Plantlife, National Trust and the Wildlife Trusts to deliver the ‘ambitious and innovative’ project. The funding has been awarded to the partnership, led by Natural England, as part of the European Union’s LIFE programme which will explore how to re-establish the natural movement within dunes and create the conditions that some of the rarest wildlife relies upon. They are also aiming to encourage more people to access and enjoy dunes and take part in their conservation. Andrew Brockbank, countryside manager at the
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The sand dunes at National Trust Formby
National Trust Formby, said: “Our aim at Formby is to continue to look after this special place, working with the natural processes of coastal change within this continually evolving and shifting environment. “We look forward to sharing updates as we work up the detail of our plans in the next few months.” Chairman of Natural England, Andrew Sells, said: “This is a wonderful project to help save our sand dunes and promote a better understanding of this fascinating landscape.
“Sand dunes are a familiar backdrop to a day at the beach, but few people realise the serious threat they face across Europe. I am delighted that we have this exciting opportunity to work with our partners to safeguard these wildlife-rich habitats for future generations.” The LIFE bid marks an important step towards a larger programme of sand dune conservation work around the coast of England and Wales which has already gained initial support for more than £4milllion of National Lottery funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
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