Keynote Dynamic Dunes Congress 2015: Duncan Ludlow - Dune rejuvenation management in Wales

1. Dune Rejuvenation
Management in Wales
Merthyr Mawr Warren NNR
Kenfig NNR
Newborough Warren NNR

3. Merthyr Mawr Warren
1948
•On a 26mile stretch of
coast of Swansea Bay
of the approximate
3,300ha of dune and
blown sand habitats
65% has been lost
•The remaining dunes
are now fragmented and
isolated from each other

5. Archaeological
remains
Sand supply
Wind speeds
Gravel workings
Scheduled Ancient Monument
Where to start?...

8. Aims of the dune rejuvenation
work at Merthyr Mawr Warren
NNR
• Create areas of bare sand habitat
(10-20% of reserve area)
• Create new dune slack areas (SAC habitat feature)
• Promote areas of mobile sand
• Restore the area of dunes worked for gravel in the
1960’s & 1970’s

12. •1.45ha of bare sand
created
•Approx 1,200m³ of sand
excavated each day

21. 2014-15 work

22. Results so far….
• 1 new slack area created
• 5.5ha of bare sand created (1.7% of Reserve area)
• Potential for an increase in the area of bare sand habitat
in a 6ha area of the reserve adjacent to the worked area
(an extra 1.8%)

23. Lessons learnt at Merthyr Mawr…

24. Choice of machinery

25. Vegetation regrowth

26. Substrate – sand or gravel?

27. Kenfig NNR

32. Results so far at Kenfig NNR
2012
• Turf stripping
• Formation of dune arms
2013
• Creation of 4 notches in fore dunes
• Creation of bare sand areas by turf stripping
2014
• 3ha of bare sand created
• Creation of 4 notches in frontal dunes