Coastal Dune - Sedgemoor


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Key factors

Extent/Distribution

In Sedgemoor sand dune habitat makes up a large proportion of the coastline, located predominantly at Berrow and Brean, with a small area on Steart Island. The total area of about 84 ha represents almost all of the Somerset resource (90%).

A large proportion of the habitat has been designated SSSI (75 ha) at Berrow Dunes, which is a site of national importance. Most of the site is owned and managed by the Burnham and Berrow Golf Club. Sedgemoor District Council also owns part of the area and manage it as a Local Nature Reserve.

The remainder of the known dune resource is within the Brean Dunes County Wildlife Site (9.8 ha), although small pockets exist around Brean that as yet have not been surveyed. Sedgemoor contains five of the ten coastal sand dune types listed in Annex I of the EC Habitats Directive.

[breakdown of dune types available in LBAP]

Threats

Direct loss of habitat through development. In the past the proliferation of developments as part of the increase in tourism in the area has reduced and fragmented the dune system in Sedgemoor.

Spread of non-native sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides). Although an important aspect of the dune system itself, the invasion of scrub, particularly sea-buckthorn, can cause the decline in plant and invertebrate diversity. As well as the direct habitat loss caused by sea-buckthorn invasion, it also has the effect of drying out dune slack and other wet features. With the build up of impenetrable scrub visitors are channelled into fewer places causing heavier and more localised erosion.

Management of the golf course. Although potentially complementary to dune habitat management some aspects of golf course management can be detrimental for biodiversity. These include over cutting dune grasslands and the application of fertiliser and herbicides.

Falling water tables due to recreational and agricultural demands. This has had a particular effect on the dune slack and other wet features.

Recreational pressures. Visitor use of the dune system has lead to localised erosion, disturbance to breeding birds and a litter problem.

Natural loss. Erosion of the dune habitat is an inevitable part of the dune system. It is, however, made worse by visitor pressure and by removal of strandline material, which would otherwise form the next wave of dune establishment. Sea level rise adds to the natural erosion of the dunes.

Action Plan Objectives

OBJECTIVE 1

Ensure no net loss of the existing resource 84 ha

TARGET: Ongoing

OBJECTIVE 2

Improve the quality of the existing resource for the conservation of biodiversity 84 ha

TARGET: 2004

OBJECTIVE 3

Mitigate against natural loss of coastal sand dunes by encouraging a return to natural dune formation 1.6 ha*
Target 2018*

*This figure has been estimated using the national figure of 2% loss of habitat over the next 20 years.

Action Plan Targets

[ see above ]

Current Action

A National Action plan for this habitat is currently being drafted, due for final draft in March 1999. There is presently a habitat statement for coastal sand dune which highlights relevant issues at the national scale.
Burnham and Brean Golf Club have commissioned the development of a site management document for Berrow Dunes which describes the biodiversity at the site and makes management recommendations.
The golf club work closely with EN to carry out conservation management.
A site management plan for the LNR at Berrow was drawn up in 1993.
In PPG20 the government has made a commitment to promote the sustainable use of the coastline.

Proposed Action

Policy and legislation

Ensure that the current CWS and any newly designated sites are given due consideration in any new development proposals in the area. ACTION: SDC, SWT

Consider the needs of coastal sand dunes in Coastal Recreation Strategies or equivalent documents. ACTION: SDC

Support the implementation of the current Shoreline Management Plan. ACTION: SDC

Management

Target the removal of sea-buckthorn to those sites where biodiversity has most recently been lost.
ACTION: SDC, EN, BBGC

Consider removing newly regenerated sea-buckthorn by hand, to reduce the need for chemical application. ACTION: SDC, EN, BBGC, BTCV

Allow the natural processes of strandline accumulation, embryonic dune formation and fore dune consolidation wherever possible. ACTION: SDC, EN, BBGC, BTCV

Encourage the re-creation of dune slacks by targeting appropriate existing depressions. Once established prevent future invasion by sea-buckthorn. ACTION: SDC, EN, BBGC

Consider the viability of grazing management as a long-term solution to scrub control. ACTION: SDC, EN, BBGC

Implement appropriate management for the dune tiger beetle (Cicindela maritima) as outlined in the Species Action Plan for Sedgemoor. ACTION: SDC, EN, BBGC

Continue the valuable advice to the owners of the SSSI at Berrow Dunes, particularly with regard to the actions described above. ACTION: EN

Research and monitoring

Establish a habitat and species survey of potential dune habitat around the Brean area in order to assess the extent and quality of any sites not already within the designated areas. ACTION: SDC, SERC

Develop a monitoring programme of selected indicator species to assess the impact of implementing this action plan. ACTION: SDC, SERC

Consider carrying out a site survey of the LNR in order to better inform habitat needs of the species associate with it. ACTION: SDC

Education and awareness raising

Use information gathered in the survey of the LNR as a basis for creating educational and publicity material for the site. ACTION: SDC

Encourage local communities and school groups to help with practical management of the LNR and to use the site for educational visits. ACTION: SDC, SWT, BTCV

Use information gathered in the survey of the LNR as a basis for creating educational and publicity material for the site. ACTION: SDC

Encourage local communities and school groups to help with practical management of the LNR and to use the site for educational visits. ACTION: SDC, SWT, BTCV

Progress

[ no information currently available]