These new dune grasslands that are formed are rich in wildlife, but the crucial pioneer habitats are gradually lost.
Since 1946 open bare sand habitats at Sandscale have dropped to under 2%. Mobile dunes are now only around the seaward edge of the nature reserve, everywhere else has been covered by grasses and scrub.
To help create a more open habitat the rangers have been trialling 3 different methods:
1. Created bare patches of sand in the dunes Using hand tools, they’ve created more open areas in the grassland to help those rare pioneer plants to grow.
2. Encouraged sand to move inland By creating some weak points in the taller dunes which edge onto the beach their aim is to encourage the bare dune sand to move towards the land and form openings (blowouts). It helps to change the shape of the dunes and create new wet hollows (dune slacks)