Dynamic Dunescapes is an ambitious project, rejuvenating some of England & Wales' most important sand dunes for people, communities and wildlife.
Many of us know and love sand dunes as beautiful coastal landscapes, but they are also important biodiversity hotspots. These dunes are a sanctuary for rare species which are perfectly adapted to live in sand. At a healthy dune, you could find orchids, toads, birds and lizards thriving!
But these special creatures are at risk. Over time, many dunes have become covered by grass and scrub which have over-stabilised the sand, and invasive species have overtaken native ones. We now know that a dune environment needs areas of freely-moving sand, healthy sheltered dune slacks and areas with low vegetation to support its diverse wildlife. We’re using pioneering conservation techniques to rejuvenate the dunes and make their shifting sands the perfect home for our threatened wildlife again.
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Important Notice:
When visiting your local sand dunes, remember to follow
Coronavirus restrictions and The Countryside Code.
Be part of our community dune-inspired Sea Shanty!
Got pipes? Part of a shanty group or choir? Send us your recordings of 'Dynamic Dune', written by Dunescapes team members Steve and Dave in Cumbria, to be part of our collaborative celebration of coastal heritage and dune landscapes.
Sand Dune Site Managers: Download our new handbook
Featuring detailed methodologies to keep your dune management skills and understanding up to date, and to help you plan the best interventions for your dune site.
Dynamic Dunescapes for you
Whether you're exploring with your family, ready to join our volunteers or seeking innovative student research opportunities there’s a side of Dynamic Dunescapes for everyone.
News and Blogs
Find out about the latest exciting news from the dunes and read about our conservation actions in our blog.
Painted cow sculpture trail arrives at Woolacombe Dunes for the summer
On June 25th, to celebrate the first World Sand Dune Day, ten bright and bold, community-painted cow sculptures will form a fun and educational ‘Cows on Dunes’ visitor trail through the dunes
Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR: Selection Bird Sightings 19th March to15th April 2021
Our wonderful volunteer and keen birder Cliff Morison shares some of his top avian sightings from Lincolnshire’s Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe National Nature Reserve in April 2021.
Managing people and birds in harmony at North Walney NNR
Natural England Senior Reserves Manager, John Osborne, shares his experiences supporting the breeding ringed plover, tern and oystercatcher populations at North Walney NNR in Cumbria.
Introducing World Sand Dune Day!
Join us on the June 25th as we celebrate the first World Sand Dune Day – established to highlight the importance of and beauty of sand dunes!
Cows are coming to Studland Bay!
Have you spotted any new faces at Studland Bay? From April 2021, ten bright arty cows will be unveiled on the dunes.
Removing Invasive Clematis from Lincolnshire’s Dunes
Find out how our Natural England team in Lincolnshire are restoring dunes by removing an invasive plant species which smothers habitats.
Poetry Spotlight: Bethan Laurels
Nature has long roused artists and creatives. In this series meet our collaborative poet Bethan and enjoy her evocative coast-inspired work.
February bird sightings and marine wash-outs at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR
Join Cliff Morrison for a wildlife-spotting trip to Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR in Lincolnshire.
Listen: Explore Anderby Creek with Tish from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Listen for winter birdsong and join Tish as she explores the sand dunes at Anderby, watches for wildlife and admires the expansive skies.
January Bird sightings at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR
There are many keen birders involved in Dynamic Dunescapes, and one such individual is Cliff Morrison who volunteers at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR in Lincolnshire. In this blog series, he’ll be sharing his recent experiences and bird sightings at the reserve.
We’re carving notches in the dunes at Ainsdale Sand Dunes NNR
V-shaped gaps will be excavated in the front of selected sand dunes at Ainsdale Sand Dunes NNR to improve these dunes for rare wildlife.
Introducing World Sand Dune Day!
Join us on the June 25th as we celebrate the first World Sand Dune Day – established to highlight the importance of and beauty of sand dunes!
Removing Invasive Clematis from Lincolnshire’s Dunes
Find out how our Natural England team in Lincolnshire are restoring dunes by removing an invasive plant species which smothers habitats.
Top Half-Term Activities for Families in the Sand Dunes
This October half term, we’ve chosen some of our favourite family activities for you and the kids, from exploring the dunes in search of some of the fantastic autumn plants and fungi that are growing right now, to downloading some of our sand dune wildlife spotter activity sheets!
What’s new at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR
In the spring of 2020, the progress of Dynamic Dunescapes project work in Lincolnshire has of course been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s an update on what we have been able to do at Saltfleetby-Theedlethorpe NNR.
WW2 Aircraft Artifact Found in the Sefton Coast Sand Dunes
As we celebrate 75 years since the end of the Second World War in 2020, one of the Dynamic Dunescapes project sites offered up a previously unearthed piece of wartime history, buried in the dunes for over three quarters of a century.
New fences protect toads and help cattle in Lincolnshire
In February this year our Lincolnshire team installed a series of new fences in carefully-chosen sites across the dunes at Saltfleetby-Theedlethorpe. The purpose of these new fences is to protect certain areas, including some of the pools that are used as key breeding areas for the dunes’ population of rare natterjack toads. The fences are…
What's on
Explore our upcoming events.
Halloween Beach Clean at South Walney, Cumbria – 30 Oct
Halloween’s not about trick or trash, help us clean the reserve’s beaches and fight pollution like superheroes do, then enjoy some treats on us. Wrap up warm and don your wellies for a spooky afternoon!
Save the dunes! Studland Bay, Dorset
Roll up your sleeves and bring your whole family to this array of conservation activities, including creating a sand lizard habitat!
Sound Exploration, Studland Bay, Dorset
Join our professional sound artist, Adrian Newton, to discover the hidden sounds and untold stories on the dunes!
Nature tots, Studland Bay, Dorset
Bring the little ones for a morning of discovery and adventure on the sand dunes!
Natural Resources Sculpture Creations, Studland Bay, Dorset
Join professional artist Heidi Steller, in learning more about sand dunes through art, sound and natural materials.
Bats on the dunes, Studland Bay, Dorset
Come and join us after dark for an exciting evening of Bat spotting and conservation talks.
Dune Ecology Walk, Studland Bay, Dorset
Join David Brown, National Trust Ecologist at Purbeck, for a specialist walk through the sand dune system.
[Online] Shifting approaches, shifting sands – how dune management has changed, with Tim at Plantlife
Find out why we’ve ditched the bucket and spade and have brought in the diggers. By the end of the session, you will understand the threats to sand dunes, historic management practices and how we can reintroduce natural dynamism into sand dunes.
[Online] Intelligence services – Understanding dunes through community science, with David at Plantlife
The Dynamic Dunescapes App provides a range of activities to measure sand dune health. How can you get involved and what can the data tell us?
The Triangle, Sefton Coast: Dune Heath Management Drop-in Sessions
Get hands-on and help us restore this fantastic area of dune heath habitat! We’ll be there between 10am-3pm and there will be a range of tasks you can get involved in, with something for all abilities.
