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Sand dune restoration plants are our newest venture into helping protect our countryside. While fairly new to growing these plants it holds a close place in our hearts as many of us have fond childhood memories of climbing through dunes looking at the different flowers and spiky grasses. Our native dunes are fascinating habitats for both flora and fauna and are sadly at risk. So much so they are listed as one of Europe’s most at risk areas for loss of biodiversity. Thankfully there are many groups and partnerships across the country looking to save them. To help these projects succeed in their mission we have started growing plants specific to dunes and the different stages of their lifecycle.
Life stages of sand dunes
Embryo Dune – This is the youngest and smallest stage of a sand dune, mostly made of bare sand facing the sea but contains pioneer species like sand couch grass and lyme grass that help stabilise the sand with their long roots. These dunes are affected by strong winds and winter tides.
Mobile Dune – These are the dunes directly behind the embryo dunes standing a few metres taller being colonised by Marram grass with less exposed sand and more resilient to storms. These can normally last a few years.
Dune slack – These are hollows between dunes and if low enough (below the dune water table) can form freshwater pools. These pools are crucial for wildlife like the natterjack toad.
Fixed Dune – This is the more mature dune beyond that of the mobile dune and has started to get some build up of humus from rotten down vegetation and much less bare sand. These dunes hold much more diverse wildflowers.
