Work taking place to protect sand dunes

Swansea Council manages the dunes and has been working with expert botany consultants to increase native sand dune plant species benefitting wildlife at the site.

But a number of non-native species including Italian Alder and Japanese Rose have taken root.

These are being removed by the council’s Nature Conservation Team to protect the dunes by stopping them establishing themselves and spreading.

Much of this work is funded through Welsh Government grants for biodiversity recovery and follows detailed surveys by the consultants.

Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment Enhancement & Infrastructure Management, Mark Thomas, said: “The dunes are a priority habitat and part of the Swansea Bay Wildlife Corridor and a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).

“Unless we carefully manage the site then the non-native species will establish themselves and that could lead to a loss in the native dune habitat.

“Where work is taking place to remove these species hundreds of native wildflower plugs are being planted within the dunes to further increase the biodiversity.

“As well as being an important site for wildlife our Nature Conservation Team have done an excellent job making the dunes publically accessible and have created interpretation panels so that people can learn about their biodiversity and its importance.

“For those who are unaware they are there or have never got around to taking a walk then the they are fully accessible and well worth a visit, particularly of a crisp winter’s day.”