Reasons Never to Walk on Sand Dunes
England’s sand dunes are remarkable. They have plants that anchor sand (to prevent coastal erosion). And are home to many nesting birds and endangered species (like natterjack toads). Plus seals use them to hide their pups, before they learn to swim.
Walking on sand dunes is akin to trampling all over flower beds.
Always keep to main paths near sand dunes (keep dogs away from nesting birds and seals – this also helps to avoid pirri pirri burr attaching to skin, fur, clothes or shoelaces). Keep dogs away from coastal flowers, as many are toxic (some to humans too).
Read more on keeping dogs safe by the seaside.
Never hold barbecues on beaches, nor smoke near sand dunes use a personal ashtray to immediately extinguish cigarettes, until you can find a bin). Never ‘surf’ down sand dunes, you could do damage that takes decades to recover).
The Main Sand Dunes in England
Due to being an island, there are many sand dunes around England. Some of the main ones are:
Lindisfarne (Northumberland) are on an island (be sure to check tide times, to avoid getting stranded when the road disappears twice a day). These sand dunes are surrounded by coastal saltmarshes and tidal mudflats, with slack ponds that are home to diving beetles and rare orchids.
Braunton Burrow (Devon) is home to almost 500 flowers and 33 species of endangered butterflies. one of England’s largest sand dunes, keep dogs on leads as livestock are nearby (follow the Countryside Code).
These are named after the hundreds of rabbit warrens in the dunes (who alas are often killed by birds of prey, it’s nature). The slacks are below water level, so wetland birds like it here too.
North Norfolk has some of the world’s best sand dunes, including Marram Grass (named after old Norfolk words for sea and straw) and Red rescue grass (which attracts sand sedge and creeping willow). The Dune Slacks here are breeding grounds for endangered natterjack toads and endangered nesting birds.
West Wittering (near Chichester harbour in West Sussex) has sand dunes popular with endangered skylarks, and ringed plovers like the wetlands here. Chestnut paling fences have been installed, to stop people damaging the dunes. The Winner is an area of sand, mud and shingle – only seen at low tide.
Kent has many sand dunes that are home to evening primrose plants, bumble bees, lizards, digger wasps and burrowing bees (all who leave behind little piles of sand).
Camber Sands (East Sussex) was formed when sand and seashells blew on the coast, and got trapped by plants. It’s again home to natterjack toads.
Wildlife that Live in Sand Dunes
Stonechat birds look like small brown robins. they hide in gorse shrub, and are so-named as their call sounds like two stones knocking together! They also like heathland and wetlands, and although some migrate to Europe and North Africa, others stay year-round in England.
Sand lizards dig narrow tunnels to hibernate in winter. Lizards have five toes (newts have four). The males turn bright green in spring, ready for mating.
These lizards are now very rare (and highly protected) due to loss of sand dues and sandy heathland habitats. On rare occasions, you may find them basking on the sand.
Grayling is our largest brown butterfly, and feeds on marram grass. These butterflies have mottled-brown underwings with pale yellow/orange bands, and rest with their wings closed.
They are difficult to see, as they are camouflaged when resting on stones or tree trunks, and their orange spots are concealed when resting.
Sand wasps live on caterpillars, which it feeds on back in its sandy home. Then seals it up with mud, so nobody can get in! Sand wasp parents are very clever. Not only do their make several nests to feed their young, but they remember the ages of each ‘child’, returning to feed them in order!
Natterjack toads are England’s largest amphibians, mostly found on dunes and saltmarshes in northwest England and Norfolk. They breed in shallow pools, and have distinctive yellow stripes on their backs.
Known for their noisy call, it’s important (and illegal) to avoid disturbing them. If you want to hear them, you will even if you’re quite far away!
Recently, children in Perranporth (Cornwall) made wooden signs, to encourage people to keep beaches clean, to protect sand dunes. But they went missing (likely the wood used to create illegal bonfires).
Surfers Against Sewage were impressed that the children did not give up, they just made new ones!
