Management plan for the sand dunes
The partnership, set up in 1992, between Somerset Council and English Nature, has focused primarily on revitalising the ecological interest of the dune habitats. A management plan was drawn up which identified the threats to the different habitats within the Reserve and a programme of remedial work is currently underway.
This work has concentrated on cutting down large quantities of mainly Sea Buckthorn scrub and then treating the stumps with an approved herbicide to limit their regrowth. Since its introduction less than a century ago, the Sea Buckthorn has spread out over about half the reserve, leading to the loss of much of the species-rich grassland habitat.
Scrub clearance has also taken place alongside the footpaths, to widen the paths and prevent “trenches” developing (which can encourage erosion). The footpath routes have been waymarked, in order to direct pedestrians to the beach and to improve public access throughout the Reserve. This work has been undertaken with the help of the Somerset Wildlife Trust and Conservation Volunteers.
The sand dunes are essentially robust, but they are at risk of being damaged by the trampling they receive from the large number of visitors during the summer months. Visitor pressure has dramatically affected the stability of the foredunes, particularly at the northern end, by the access road to the beach. Vehicular traffic has been actively discouraged from the dunes by the wooden bollard barriers along the dune edge. Where erosion has occurred within the foredunes, branches of Sea Buckthorn and other cleared scrub have been placed, to allow sand to accumulate, thus encouraging the processes of dune formation.
The management plan identified that a lowering of the water table had occurred in recent years which led to some of the ponds drying out. A number of ponds have now been excavated, in the hope that water will remain in them all year round.
Great Crested Newts at Berrow Dunes
The Green Estates Team checked for great crested newts at Berrow Dunes. They were very happy to see that these special newts are living and breeding there.
Great crested newts are protected in Europe, so the UK’s newts are very important. There are three types of newt that live in the UK. The great crested newt is the biggest. Most of the time, these newts live on land, in places like woods, hedges, and grassy areas. They eat insects and other small creatures. In early spring, the newts go to ponds to breed. The male newts grow a long, wavy crest on their backs and do special dances to attract the females. Female newts can lay up to 200 to 300 eggs each spring. They wrap each egg in a piece of plant to protect it.
The ranger team at Berrow Dunes worked hard in winter 2024 to improve a pond that had too many willow trees around it. Now, the great crested newts are using the pond again. After this year’s nesting, the team will keep working. They will cut back more trees from other ponds. This will stop too many leaves from falling into the ponds and help keep them healthy for the newts.