Why has this been done?
Invasive clematis (garden escape) has rapidly colonised the dunes. This fast-growing climbing plant has been choking and killing native scrub such as sea buckthorn.
Invasive clematis smothering a large hawthorn.
Photo - Owen Beaumont.
Before – large amounts of native scrub killed by clematis. Photo - Mark Johnson.
After – dead scrub removed and bare sand created.
Photo - Mark Johnson.
We have also opened up a dune slack (shallow pools that naturally dry out) which was previously covered in scrub. Healthy dunes need a range of habitats, including areas of bare sand, to support the full range of specialist species that are adapted for life in the dunes. We will be monitoring the site as a tool to advise on future management.
Dune slack before - covered in dense scrub. Photo - Mark Johnson.
Dune slack after - scrub cleared, seasonal open water and bare ground for vegetation to colonise. (Note that the fire site was buried after the habitat works). Photo - Mark Johnson.
Future management
Long-term management will be challenging as clematis has become dominant in the area. We will be investigating several sympathetic management techniques to control the clematis, such as; mechanical mowing, grazing and volunteer work parties.
Find out more
Our volunteer groups will be involved in supporting our sand dune restoration work, please contact VolunteerEnquiries@naturalengland.org.uk to find out more.
For more information on Dynamic Dunescapes in Lincolnshire, please visit https://dynamicdunescapes.co.uk/project/lincolnshire/
To aid management and protect habitats, we request that visitors to the National Nature Reserve stick to the main paths and stay off the cleared areas.