Projects at Formby

Your questions answered

• When will the Victoria Road car park open?

  Both our Victoria Road and Lifeboat Road car parks and toilets are now open but as Formby is a wild, natural and legally protected landscape, parking capacity remains the same as before, and spaces will continue to up fill quickly on sunny days. On these busy days we recommend travelling to us by train if you can plan your journey here

• Where did the rubble come from?

  Regular visitors to Formby’s coastline will be familiar with the sight of rubble on the beach at Victoria Road. The rubble was all that remained of the old Harington Barracks, which were demolished after the Second World War. The demolition rubble was used to form the foundations of the old beach car park, which used to be much further in land. Over time huge amounts of rubble was being exposed as the dunes naturally rolled back.

• How much rubble was there?

  Around 80,000 tonnes of rubble has been removed from the dunes and beach – that’s about 550,000 wheelbarrows full. This means just under 7 acres, or a space around the size of 4 football pitches has been given back to nature.

• How will the removal of the rubble benefit wildlife and people?

  Now that we have removed around 80,000 tonnes of rubble, we’ll soon see the dunes starting to move naturally again, creating a healthier habitat for wildlife, a more resilient sea defence and a safer, more natural space for people to enjoy.

• What has been done with the rubble?

  Most of the rubble has been processed on site and re-used to create the subbase of a more sustainable car park further inland. The replacement car park is safely positioned away from the area where the dunes will continue to naturally roll back over time. This will ensure there is still space for people to park and enjoy this special place for many years to come.

• Why can I still see some rubble?

  Given the vast size and constantly shifting nature of the dunes, a few small pieces of surface‑level rubble may still appear occasionally. However, we have successfully removed the huge, buried rubble barrier that was stopping natural sand movement, disconnecting rare dune habitats, as well as restricting access for people.

  In total, around 80,000 tonnes of rubble has been taken away from the beach and dunes - much of it once hidden beneath the old beach car park, in places up to two metres deep.

  With this major obstacle gone, we have kick started natural processes and over the coming years we’ll witness nature’s remarkable ability to restore itself as a healthier, more connected dune system develops.

  We’ll keep monitoring the area and removing small pieces where we can, but please be assured the significant threat has been removed, and nature is already responding to our conservation efforts.

• Where is the replacement car park?

  The replacement, inland car park at Victoria Road is nestled in the woodlands on the right-hand side as you enter the site. It has been safely positioned away from the area where the dunes will continue to naturally roll back over time.

  Visitors can expect a nature‑rich, half‑mile walk to the beach through the woodlands and, as always at Victoria Road, through the dunes, while Lifeboat Road continues to offer a shorter, more accessible route via a boardwalk.

  Please note there will no longer be a car park next to the beach or parking available on the woodland road, access needs to be kept clear here for pedestrians, emergency and National Trust vehicles.

• How many spaces are there in the replacement car park?

  The replacement car park at Victoria Road is the same overall size as the old beach and woodland car parks combined. It will provide 237 marked spaces, including 10 accessible bays, offering the same amount of parking as before.

  This is the space we were permitted to allocate to parking, due to the legal restrictions in place to protect Formby’s wildlife and habitats. However, new marked bays, an improved surface, and a better layout with a proper turning circle will help traffic flow on and off site more efficiently.

• What will access to the beach be like at Victoria Road now?

  The replacement, inland car park at Victoria Road is nestled in the woodlands on the right-hand side as you enter the site. It has been safely positioned away from the area where the dunes will continue to naturally roll back over time. There are 10 accessible parking spaces available.

  The beach is roughly a half a mile walk on uneven ground through the woodlands and, as always, at Victoria Road through the dunes.

  We have five sand wheelchairs available to borrow for free. These can only be used on the woodland paths at Victoria Road but also on the paths, boardwalk and beach at Lifeboat Road. Find out more here

  We recommend that visitors with access needs use our Lifeboat Road car park, which offers a shorter and more accessible route to the same beach. From there, a hard‑standing path leads to a boardwalk. There are also a couple of benches along the way if you want to rest.

  Sefton Council also offer parking for around 2,000 cars from 1 April to 30 September on the same beach at Ainsdale, a couple of miles north of Formby.

  Formby is a wild, natural and legally protected space but we are committed to continuing our work to improve paths and access where we can. Please check out our Access Guide here for more detailed information:

• Can I walk in the sand dune restoration area?

  The initial conservation work, to kick start the restoration process in the dunes where the old beach car park used to be, is almost complete.

  The sand dune restoration area needs time and space to heal, people are welcome to take a quick look, but we do ask that everyone spends most of their time in other less sensitive areas of the site. We will shortly be putting up some information signs around the area to encourage this.

  Although most of the fencing has been removed it is still an active work site and for your own safety, we recommend keeping your distance and dogs on a short lead if you are passing by.

  The replacement car park and toilets will remain closed for the next few weeks whilst we carry out the finishing touches but we are on track to open in early spring as planned.

• How did you protect wildlife during the project?

  As a conservation charity protecting wildlife is incredibly important to us and a top priority. We thoroughly assessed the project's ecological impact as part of the planning application. Special measures were in place for species like sand lizards and overwintering birds, as well as precautions for other wildlife including bats, red squirrels and nesting birds. We worked closely with an ecologist who was there to oversee every element of the project to help us monitor and minimise impact of the project work on Formby’s precious wildlife.

  We're confident this project will hugely benefit wildlife at Formby, like natterjack toads and sand lizards, without being detrimental to Formby's much-loved red squirrels.

• Why have you removed trees to build a car park?

  We've been working with conservation experts for many years to explore how to remove the huge amounts of rubble from the dunes and beach. From taking it away by sea or by land, re-purposing on site, to the impact of doing nothing. A full options analysis was required as part of the planning application.

  Re‑using the material on site as the subbase of a replacement car park further inland was the most sustainable solution. A range of potential locations were assessed, and the selected site was chosen because it had a very large hollow that could contain the rubble and bring the car park up to a suitable level.

  To prepare the area, we had to remove a small area of mainly self‑seeded sycamore and birch trees, representing 0.8% of Formby’s woodlands. While this has had some initial visual impact, the project will help create bigger and healthier habitats for Formby’s rare wildlife. It will also ensure there is space for people to park for years to come.
  
  As a conservation charity protecting wildlife is incredibly important. We thoroughly assessed the project's ecological impact as part of the planning application and worked closely with an ecologist throughout to help us monitor and minimise impact of the project work on Formby’s precious wildlife.

  Ecological surveys confirmed that no red squirrel dreys were present in the section of woodland that has been cleared. Special measures and precautions were put in place for wildlife including bats, red squirrels and birds.

  We’re committed to improving the tree health, species diversity, and age structure in Formby’s plantation woodlands to benefit both wildlife and people.

  As part of our 10-year woodland management plan and separate to the project we’re planting 2,500 trees in Lifeboat Road area in March 2026 to replace an area of dense, mature trees, following our "right tree, right place" approach. You can find out more here

• How will removing trees impact red squirrels and other wildlife?

  As a conservation charity protecting wildlife is incredibly important to us and a top priority. We thoroughly assessed the project's ecological impact as part of the planning application and worked closely with an ecologist throughout to help us monitor and minimise impact of the project work on Formby’s precious wildlife.

  Ecological surveys confirmed that no red squirrel dreys were present in the section of woodland that has been cleared. Special measures and precautions were put in place for wildlife including bats, red squirrels and nesting birds. The trees were mainly self-seeded sycamore and birch trees and the amount we had to remove represented 0.8% of the total woodland habitat at NT Formby, ensuring that wildlife will continue to have plenty of space to thrive.

  Improving the tree health, species diversity, and age structure in Formby’s plantation woodlands to benefit both wildlife and people remains a priority. As part of our 10-year woodland management plan and separate to the project we’re planting 2,500 trees and shrubs in Lifeboat Road area in March 2026 to replace an area of dense, mature trees, following our "right tree, right place" approach. You can find out more here

• What's happening with access to Freshfield Caravan Park?

  Due to natural sand dune movement, the old access road to Freshfield Caravan Park at Formby no longer exists. This is a complex situation, and there is no simple solution. However, we have been in regular contact with the management team at Freshfield Caravan park. We’re delighted to share that new access arrangements for caravan owners have been agreed for the foreseeable future.

  We would encourage anyone with a caravan at Freshfield Caravan Park who would like to find out more about the new access arrangements to speak to the Directors of FCP Ltd directly.

  You can find out more about the impact of dune movement on Freshfield Caravan Park here

• Who worked on the project?

  Cheetham Hill Construction (CHC) are a well-respected north west based civil engineering contractor, undertaking all types of work for almost 60 years. With a large fleet of plant and in house workforce that are experienced undertaking remediation, environmental and infrastructure works they are ideally suited to this project. CHC have worked locally for both the National Trust and Natural England at Formby and Ainsdale successfully undertaking similar ‘Dunescape’ contracts www.chc.co.uk

  Civic Engineers, the civil, structural and transport engineers that place climate resilience and people at the heart of their engineering services, were appointed as lead consultant and civil engineers to take the scheme through detailed design and construction.

  Stace LLP – is a leading, independent multidisciplinary construction and property consultancy, delivering services across the UK. They are acting as the National Trust’s Agent and providing Cost Management services, in addition to overseeing health and safety to ensure full compliance with the Construction, Design and Management (CDM) regulations.

  Tyrer Ecological Consultants – are a well-established and expanding ecological consultancy based in Formby on the Sefton Coast.

  Simply Ecology – ecological consultants involved in the project planning for over 5 years. With over 30 years of experience in the sector, and having previously partnered with the National Trust for the notches project to restore the tobacco waste dunes. Simply Ecology provided the baseline wildlife surveys at Victoria Road and are now overseeing the safe movement of nationally rare sand lizards away from the work area and their release nearby

• How was the project being funded?

  This important conservation project is being made possible thanks to a significant contribution towards the dune restoration work from the UK-wide Dynamic Dunescapes project with funding from EU LIFE and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. As well as generous legacy gifts donated to the National Trust - honouring the wish of people who kindly chose to protect the coast for future generations through a gift in their will.