Sand dunes are an important wildlife habitat, supporting a rich community of highly specialised plant and animal species. In addition, they play an important part in defending shorelines against the constant buffeting of waves.

Many of the sand dune systems in the UK are under threat from development and recreational pressures. Historically, dunes have been seen as low value wastelands to be exploited for profit with scant regard for the creatures that live there. They have been used for a variety of purposes: initially, grazing and fodder cutting, to development, industry and military uses during this last century, and more recently as a resource for leisure activities including golf courses, horse riding and camping.

Within the UK there are about 47,000 ha of sand dunes, of which c9,300 ha occurs in England with approximately 4,000 ha in the South West. Cornwall and Devon are the most significant counties for these systems with over 40% occurring in each.

The following are examples of species that depend on sand dunes, some of which are of conservation concern:

The major impact on sand dunes results from recreational use, destroying the vegetation which binds the sand, exposing bare sand to wind and wave attack which can ultimately result in the disappearance of the dune system.

Our sand dunes also face threats from both undergrazing which leads to dunes being taken over by scrub and, paradoxically, overgrazing, which causes excessive erosion.

Introduced plants, such as Michaelmas daisy, cause problems too as they out compete the more delicate native sand dune pants.

In the interim, dune ecosystems can suffer a devastating loss of biodiversity with single or few species dominating the entire system. This loss of biodiversity not only impoverishes the system in terms of species composition but also renders the system far less able to adapt and recover from stresses both natural and human induced.

Lastly, as with other coastal habitats, rise in sea levels could see the loss of most of our existing sand dunes.

About 50% of dune systems in the South West are designated nature reserves and are positively managed eg scrub control, maintenance/regeneration of grassland.

For instance, Braunton Burrows is an International Biosphere Reserve. Dawlish Warren forms part of the Exe Estuary Specially Protected Area and is a Local Nature Reserve.

Brean and Berrow Golf Club, in Somerset, has commissioned the development of a site management plan for Berrow Dunes, which describes the site in detail and states what needs doing to protect it.

With a rise in public environmental awareness in recent years there has been something of a turn around in perceptions of dune systems which are increasingly seen as a valuable resource, and it is now recognised that that we are in urgent need of sympathetic and sustainable management strategies if this valuable resource is to be enjoyed by further generations.