Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Geomorphological and ecological change in a coastal foreland dune system, Sandscale haws, Cumbria, UK: the management challenges posed by climate change

  • Published:
Journal of Coastal Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many coastal sand dune systems in the UK and other parts of the world have experienced a decline in bare sand extent and dune mobility over the past 70 years, accompanied by increased coverage of coarse grass, scrub and woodland vegetation. This has raised concerns amongst nature conservationists about the survival of dune specialist species. Opinions are divided, however, regarding what management interventions should be made to counteract these trends. This paper reviews the factors which have contributed to progressive dune system stabilization at Sandscale Haws, located on the Irish Sea coast in Northwest England, considers the implications for the site of UKCP18 future climate change projections, and discusses the options and plans for future adaptive management. Analaysis of aerial photographs indicated a large reduction in bare sand area between 1946 and 1988 (from >34% to 9% of the dune system), since when there has been a further decline to 1.7%. Consideration of the evidence suggests that a trend towards a warmer, slightly wetter and less windy climate has been the main driver of stabilization, although atmospheric nitrogen deposition, increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations, reduced grazing intensity, reduced human disturbance from the mid-1980s onwards and a tendency for shoreline progradation on the west-facing coast have played contributing roles. Some species characteristic of open habitats can still be found in good numbers in parts of the dune system, but without increased management it is likely they will decline further and some may become locally extinct. Since the site is of national and international importance for a number of nationally scarce plant and animal species it is considered that there is both a legal and an ethical duty to attempt to maintain suitable habitat for their survival. As a National Nature Reserve Sandscale Haws provides a suitable ‘natural laboratory’ within which to research the effectiveness of different intervention methods. A number of small-scale dune rejuvenation methods have been trialled since 2015, and options for larger scale interventions, including turf stripping and possible dune notching, are currently being evaluated as part of the nation-wide Dynamic Dunescapes project.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander LV, Jones PD (2001, 2001) Updated Precipitation Series for the U.K. and Discussion of Recent Extremes. Atmos Sci Lett 1, 1:–150. https://doi.org/10.1006/asle.2001.0025

  • Arens SM, Slings QL, Geelen LHWT, van der Hagen HGJM (2013) Restoration of dune mobility in the Netherlands. In: Martinez ML, Gallego-Fenrandez JB, Hesp PA (eds) Restoration of Coastal Dunes. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 107–124

  • Arens SM, de Vries S, Geelen LHWT, Ruessink G, van der Hagen HGJM, Groenendijk D (2020) Comment on ‘is ‘re-mobilisation’ nature restoration or nature destruction? A commentary’ by I. Delgado-Fernandez, R.G.D. Davidson-Arnott & P.A. Hesp. J Coast Conserv 24:17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-020-00731-1

  • Arthur RG (2002) English – Old Norse dictionary. In-parenthesis Publications, Linguistic Series, Cambridge, Ontario, 166pp

  • Ashkenazy Y, Yizhaq H, Tsoar H (2011) Sand dune mobility under climate change in the Kalahari and Australian deserts. Climate Change 112(3):1–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-011-0264-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BGS (1997) Ulverston. England and Wales Sheet 48 Solid and Drift Geology 1:50000. British Geological Survey, Keyworth

  • Brunbjerg AK, Jorgensen GP, Nielsen KM, Pedersen ML, Svenning J-C, Ejrnaes R (2015) Disturbance in dry coastal dunes in Denmark promotes diversity of plants and arthropods. Biol Conserv 182:243–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruun P (1962) Sea level rise as a cause of shore erosion. Proc Am Soc Civil Eng, J Wat Harb Div 88:117–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Bullen Consultants (1998) St Bees Head to Earnse Point, Isle of Walney Shoreline Management Plan. Volumes I to III. Bullen Consultants, Birkenhead, November, 1998

  • Burton P (2001) Grazing as a management tool and the constraints of the agricultural system: a case study of grazing on Sandscale Haws Nature Reserve, Cumbria, Northwest England. In: Houston J, Edmondson SE, Rooney PJ (eds) Coastal Dune Management Shared Experience of European Conservation Practice. Liverpool University Press, Liverpool, pp 80–85

  • Carter RWG, Hesp PA, Nordstrom KF (1990) Erosional landforms in coastal dunes. In: Nordstrom KF, Psuty NP, Carter RWG (eds) Coastal Dunes: Form and Process. John Wiley & Son Ltd., Chichester, pp 217–250

  • CH2MHill (2013) North West Estuaries Processes Reports - Duddon Estuary. Report prepared for Sefton Council, CH2MHill Halcrow, York, December 2013. Available from www. channelcoast.org (last accessed 02 June 2020)

  • Clarke M, Rendell HM (2009) The impact of North Atlantic storminess on western European coasts: a review. Quat Int 195:31–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke M, Rendell HM (2011) Atlantic storminess and historical sand drift in Western Europe: implications for future management of coastal dunes. J Coast Conserv 15:227–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clemmensen LB, Murray A (2006) The termination of the last major phase of aeolian sand movement, coastal dunefields, Denmark. Earth Surf Process Landf 31:795–808

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clemmensen LB, Hansen KWT, Kroon A (2014) Storminess variation at Skagen, northern Denmark since AD 1860: relations to climate change and implications for coastal dunes. Aeolian Res 15:101–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Creer J, Litt E, Ratcliffe J, Rees S, Thomas N, Smith P (2020) A comment on some of the conclusions made by Delgado-Fernandezet al. (2019). “Is ‘re-mobilisation’ nature conservation or nature destruction? A commentary”. J Coast Conserv 24:29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-020-00745-9

  • Cumbria County Council (2006) Extensive urban survey archaeological assessment report Barrow. Cumbria County Council and English Heritage, pp27

  • Delgado-Fernandez I, Davidson-Arnott RGD, Hesp PA (2019a) Is ‘re-mobilisation’ nature restoration or nature destruction? A commentary. J Coast Conserv 23:1093–1103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delgado-Fernandez I, O’Keefe NO, Davidson-Arnott RGD (2019b) Natural and human controls on dune vegetation cover and disturbance. Sci Total Environ 672:643–656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dynamic Dunescapes (2018) Site Plans: Capital Work Project Plans Project Area: Cumbria. Heritage Lottery Fund reference: HG-16-08643. Project website accessible at: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=6812&docType=pdf at: https://dynamicdunescapes.co.uk/

  • English Nature (1990) Duddon Estuary SSSI Notification. English Nature, Peterborough

  • Environment Agency (2019) Coastal flood boundary conditions for the UK: update 2018. Technical summary report. Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/827778/Coastal_flood_boundary_conditions_for_the_UK_2018_update_-_technical_report.pdf. Accessed 21 Dec 2019

  • Environment Agency (2020) Guidance - Flood Risk Assessments: Climate Change Allowances Update 16 March 2020. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-assessments-climate-change-allowances

  • Evans H, Coward D (2004) Archaeological Fieldwork at Sandscale NNR, Barrow in Furness, September 2003. Unpublished Report by the University of Sheffield and National Trust

  • Fahy FM, Hansom JD, Comber DPM (1993) Estuaries Management Plans - CPastal Processes and Conservation: Duddon Eestuary. Report prepared for English Nature. Department of Geography and Topographic Science, University of Glasgow, Coastal Research Group

  • Forbes N (2017) Responding to a changing environment at Sandscale Haws. National Trust Views 54:65–67

  • Forbes N (2018) Sandscale Haws NNR Management Plan 2018-2023. National Trust, Sandscale Haws, unpublished report

  • Forbes N, Maskell L (2018) Restoring pioneer dune habitats - management trials at Sandscale Haws NNR. Conserv Land Manag 16(4):17–24

  • Gao J, Kennedy DM, Konlechner TM (2020) Coastal dune mobility over the past century: a global review. Prog Phys Geogr: Earth and Env. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309133320919612

  • Gonzalez-Gonzalez I (2014) Molecular Fungal Diversity and its Ecological Function in Sand Dune Spoils. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Manchester

  • Gresswell RK (1958) The postglacial raised beach in Furness and Lyth, North Morecambe Bay. Trans Inst Br Geogr 25:79–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Halcrow (2010a) Cell Eleven Tidal and Sediment Transport Study (CETASS), Phase 2(ii) Appendix G Duddon Estuary Modelling Report for the Northwest and North Wales Coastal Group Halcrow Group Ltd, Swindon, September 2010

  • Halcrow (2010b) North West England and North Wales Shoreline Management Plan SMP2. Annex 1 - Policy Statements – Duddon Estuary. Report prepared by Halcrow Group Ltd for the North West and North Wales Coastal Group, February 2011

  • Hesp PA (2002) Foredunes and blowouts: initiation, geomorphology and dynamics. Geomorphology 48:245–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howe MA, Litt E, Pye K (2012) Rejuvenating Welsh dunes. British Wildlife 24:85–94

  • Huddart D, Tooley MJ, Carter PA (1977) The coasts of Northwest England. In: Kidson C, Tooley MJ (eds) The Quaternary History of the Irish Sea. Geological Journal Special Issue no. 7:119–154

  • Jackson DWT, Costas S, Guidado-Pintado E (2019a) Large-scale transgressive coastal dune behaviour in Europe during the Little Ice Aage. Glob Planet Change 175:82–91

  • Jackson DWT, Costas S, González-Villanueva R, Cooper A (2019b) A global ‘greening’ of coastal dunes: an integrated consequence of climate change? Glob Planet Change 182(103026):1–9

  • Jones J (2019) Are rabbits under threat at Sandscale Haws? Assessment of Trends in the Rabbit Population and Impacts on Habitats of International Importance at Sandscale Haws National Nature Reserve. Lancaster University, MSc Dissertation

  • Jones L, Wallace H, Norris D, Brittain SA, Haria S, Jones RE, Rhind PM, Reynolds BR, Emmet BA (2004) Changes in vegetation and soil characteristics in coastal sand dunes along a gradient of atmospheric nitrogen deposition. Plant Biol 6:598–605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones L, Stratford C, Robins, N, Mountford O, Amy S, Peyton J, Hulmes L, Hulmes S (2014) Survey and Analysis of Vegetation and Hydrological Change in English Dune Slack Habitats. Annex 3 Site Report for Sandscale Haws. Natural England Commissioned Report NECR153

  • Lloyd JM, Zong Y, Fish P, Innes JB (2012) Holocene and late-glacial relative sea level change in north-West England: implications for glacial isostatic adjustment models. J Quat Sci 22:705–715

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowe JA, Bernie D, Bett P and 31 others (2018) UKCP18 Science Overview Report Version 2.0. Exeter: The Met Office: pp73. Available at https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/pub/data/weather/uk/ukcp18/science-reports/UKCP18-Overview-report.pdf (last accessed 07.12.19)

  • Maddock A (ed) (2016) UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitat Descriptions Coastal Dunes. Revision November 2016, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. Available at: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5706 (last accessed May 2020)

  • McNab C (1974) A Report of an Investigation into the Effects of Grazing by Cattle and Sheep on Dune and Slack Vegetation at Sandscale Haws, Cumbria, 1967–1974. Unpublished Report, Brathay Field Studies Centre, Ambleside

  • Milne GA, Shennan I, Youngs BAR, Waugh AI, Teferle FN, Bingley RM, Bassett SE, Cuthbert-Brown C, Bradley SL (2006) Modelling the glacial isostatic adjustment of the UK region. Philos Trans R Soc Lond 364:931–948

    Google Scholar 

  • National Trust (2015a) Playing Our Part. – National Trust Strategy to 2025. The National Trust, Swindon

  • National Trust (2015b) Shifting Shores – Playing Our Part at the Coast. The National Trust, Swindon

  • National Trust (2015c) Shifting Shores - Adapting to Change. The National Trust, Swindon

  • Natural England (2017) National Nature Reserves - At the heart of conservation in the 21st century http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/6291868196798464

  • NOAA (2020a) Monthly average Mauna Loa CO2. https://www.esrl/noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/

  • NOAA (2020b) Global monthly mean CO2. https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/global.html

  • Osswald F, Dolch T, Reise K (2019) Remobilising stabilised island dunes for keeping up with sea level rise. J Coast Conserv 23:675–687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmer M, Howard T, Tinker J, Lowe J, Bricheno L, Calvert D, Edwards T, Gregory J, Harris G, Krijnen J, Pickering M, Roberts C, Wolf J (2018) UK Climate Projections Science Report: Marine and Coastal Projections. UK: Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter: pp 33

  • Parker DE, Legg TP, Folland CK (1992) A new daily Central England temperature series, 1772-1991. Int J Climatol 12:317–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plantlife (2012) IPA Factsheet - Duddon Dunes IPA. http:/plantlifeipa.org/Factsheet.asp?sid=1615. Accessed 21 Dec 2019

  • Plantlife (2017) We Need to Talk about Nitrogen. Salisbury, Plantlife, 20 pp

  • Proovost S, Jones MLM, Edmondson SE (2011) Changes in landscape and vegetation of coastal dunes in Northwest Europe: a review. J Coast Conserv 15:207–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pye K (1990) Physical and human influences on coastal dune development between the Ribble and Mersey estuaries, Northwest England. In: Nordstrom KF, Psuty NP, Carter RWG (eds) Coastal Dunes: Form and Process. John Wiley & Son Ltd., Chichester, pp 339–359

  • Pye K, Blott SJ (2010) Potential Implications of Future Sea Level Rise for Estuarine Sediment Budgets and Morphology in Northwest England and North Wales. North West England and North Wales Shoreline Management Plan SMP2 Supporting Studies, Cell Eleven Tidal and Sediment Study (CETaSS) Phase 2 (ii), Appendix E – Potential Implications of Future Sea Level Rise for Estuarine Sediment Budgets and Morphology in Northwest England and North Wales. Report prepared for the Northwest England and North Wales Coastal Group by Halcrow Ltd, Swindon, September 2010

  • Pye K, Blott SJ (2016) Sandscale Haws, Cumbria – Geomorphological Assessment and Future Management Options. Report EX128095 to the National Trust, 6 June 2016, Kenneth Pye Associates Ltd, Solihull

  • Pye K, Blott SJ (2017) Evolution of a sediment-starved, over-stabilised dunefield: Kenfig Burrows, South Wales, UK. J Coast Conserv 21:685–717

  • Pye K, Blott SJ (2020) Is ‘re-mobilisation’ nature restoration or nature destruction? A commentary. Discussion. J Coast Conserv. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-020-00730-2

  • Pye K, Neal A (1993) Late Holocene dune formation on the Sefton coast, Northwest England. In: Pye K (ed) The Dynamics and Environmental Context of Aeolian Sedimentary Systems. Geological Society Special Publication no. 72:201–218

  • Pye K, Blott SJ, Howe MA (2014) Coastal dune stabilization in Wales and requirements for rejuvenation. J Coast Conserv 18:27–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ratcliffe DA (1976) Thoughts towards a philosophy of nature conservation. Biol Conserv 9:45–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ratcliffe DA (1977) A Nature Conservation Review Volume 1. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 401 pp

  • Rose WCC, Dunham KC (1977) Geology and Haematite Deposits of South Cumbria. Economic Memoir for the 1:50 000 Geological Sheet 58 and Southern Part of Sheet 48. British Geological Survey, HMSO, London

  • Saye SE (2003) Morphology and Sedimentology of Coastal Sand Dune Systems in England and Wales. PhD Thesis, University of London: 614pp

  • Sheail J (1996) From aspiration to implementation – the establishment of the first national nature reserves in Britain. Landsc Res 21:37–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shennan I, Bradley SL, Edwards R (2018) Relative Sea-level change and crustal movement in Britain and Ireland since the end of the last glacial maximum. Quat Sci Rev 188:143–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skelcher G (2012) A Vegetation Survey of Sandscale Haws National Trust Property. Report to the National Trust, December 2012

  • Stocker TF, Qin D, Platner G-K, Tignor M, Allen SK, Boschung A, Nauels A, Xia A, Bex V, Midgley PM (eds) (2013) Climate Change: The Physical Science Basis. Contributions of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 1535pp

  • Tanguy M, Prudhomme C, Smith K, Hannaford J (2017) Historic gridded potential evapotranspiration (PET) based on temperature-based equation McGuinness-Bordne calibrated for the UK (1891-2015). NERC Environmental Information Data Centre (Dataset) https://doi.org/10.5285/17b9c4f7-1c30-4b6f-b2fe-f7780159939c

  • Taub D (2010) Effects of rising atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide on plants. Physiol Ecol 3(10):21–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsoar H, Levin N, Porat N, Maiia L, Herrmann H, Tatumi SH, Sales VC (2009) The effect of climate change on the mobility and stability of coastal dunes in Ceara state (NE Brazil). Quat Res 71(2):217–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UKHO (2018) Admiralty Tide Tables United Kingdom and Ireland Including and European Channel Ports. NP201 Volume 1 2018. Hydrographic office, Taunton

  • Waite AR, Crawford IC (1987) National Sand Dune Vegetation Survey Site Report no. 2 Sandscale Haws, Cumbria. Contract Surveys no.11, Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough

  • White A (1994) An early bronze age axe from Sandscale, Cumbria. Trans Cumb Westmor Antiq Archaeol Soc 2(94):282–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Yizhaq H, Ashkenazy Y, Tsoar H (2009) Sand dune dynamics and climate change: a modelling approach. J Geophys Res 114:F01023. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JF001138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zong Y (1993) Flandrian Sea Level Changes and the Impacts of Projected Sea Level Rise on the Coastal Lowlands of Morecambe Bay and the Thames Estuary. PhD Thesis, University of Lancaster

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kenneth Pye Associates Ltd, Gateway Building, 1 Collegiate Square, Thames Valley Science Park, RG2 9LH, Reading, UK

    Kenneth Pye & Simon J. Blott

  2. The National Trust, Bank House Lane, Silverdale, Carnforth, LA5 0RE, Lancashire, UK

    Neil Forbes

  3. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, LA1 4YW, Lancaster, UK

    Lindsay C. Maskell

Authors
  1. Kenneth Pye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Simon J. Blott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Neil Forbes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lindsay C. Maskell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kenneth Pye.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pye, K., Blott, S.J., Forbes, N. et al. Geomorphological and ecological change in a coastal foreland dune system, Sandscale haws, Cumbria, UK: the management challenges posed by climate change. J Coast Conserv 24, 64 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-020-00781-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-020-00781-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation