Network Events

Forthcoming Network Events

 Dune Scrub and Woodland,  International Conference 12th - 13th September 2012

We are pleased to announce our plans to hold a two-day international conference and excursion on scrub and woodland on coastal dunes at Liverpool Hope University in September 2012. As this would be a contribution to marking the 20th anniversary of the Habitats Directive, the conference will primarily be set within the context of the habitats of the Atlantic Biogeographical Region but will seek to draw on research from a wider geographical area.

The conference would follow our aim of linking science and management and we are publishing this early announcement to invite papers and contributions to the programme. The topics we wish to address include: research on the development of woodland and scrub habitats in north-west Europe, an evaluation of Atlantic Dune Woodland in the Atlantic Biogeographical Region including the potential of developing this habitat in the British Isles, research into the relationship between wet woods and coastal dune slacks and the biodiversity value of native dune scrub.

The meeting will also be an opportunity to review dune forestry practices (in the UK and northwest Europe), evaluate the research on alien species and, for the UK, develop a new national strategy for Sea Buckthorn.

We have interest and support from the UK statutory agencies and the Mersey Forest and would welcome proposals for presentations, sponsorship and links to other initiatives. We would particularly welcome offers of research papers or discussion papers which could be circulated before the meeting. The proceedings will be published.

Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to register your early interest in this meeting.

Study tour to South Holland 14th - 18th May 2012

Our post-graduate study tours of the Netherlands are now a regular feature in our academic calendar. They are also an excellent opportunity for practitioners to join the students and staff for field visits and discussions on the latest developments in coastal management and nature conservation policy and practice. In 2012 the intention is to visit South Holland to look at aspects of shoreline management (including the ‘sand motor’- see http://www.dezandmotor.nl/en-GB/ - have a look at the photos), habitat management through current LIFENature projects and the management of dune water catchments.You can read about the topics we explore on these trips in our occasional paper series available here

 To register your interest, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
  

Past Network Events

2011

Study tour to The Netherlands 9th to 13th May 2011

Please register your interest if you would like to join us on our trip to Terschelling, one of the Wadden Sea Islands, by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

We will be exploring dune, polder and salt marsh habitats in the context of nature conservation and coastal management.

The cost of the trip will be £330 (no increase from last year) which includes accommodation for four nights, most meals and bike hire as well as all the lectures, field visits and access to conservation professionals. Excluded is travel to the Netherlands (plane/boat) and travel to the island (train and ferry).

 Netherlands flier 2011 (249.08 kB)

2010

Northern Ireland 21st-22nd October 2010 (Network Event)

A report of this event will be included in the forthcoming Newsletter 10

It will also be written up in collaboration with delegates in an Occasional Paper

   Workshop Report (89.28 kB)

Dune excursions Belgium and France 4th-7th October 2010

These excursions took place prior to the ZENO workshop and the Network as well as representatives from Natural England and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology were present. We were hosted by a variety of extremely knowledgeable staff from nature conservation agencies in Belgium and France. The subject matter and discussions from the tours are summarised here by John Houston.

 ZENO Network notes (841.99 kB)

 Study Tour to the Netherlands March 1st - 5th (Network Event)

A short report on the trip is available in newsletter 8  with a longer report to be produced as an occasional paper in the future.

2009

The Management of Sea Buckthorn in the UK 17-18 September 2009 (Network Event)

Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe and Gibraltar Point SAC

The meeting was an opportunity for practitioners to share views and experiences on the conservation, management and control of Sea Buckthorn scrub in the UK. Much has happened since the publication of ‘The Management of Sea Buckthorn on selected sites in Great Britain’, the report of the Hippophae Study Group in 1972, yet the plant remains as controversial as ever.

Some sites have eradicated the species, some have set limits to its spread but in other areas it remains a massive problem. Is there a particular issue with Sea Buckthorn in the British Isles? Sea Buckthorn scrub is a recognised EU habitat type and one site in the UK, the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes and Gibraltar Point SAC now includes ‘dunes with Hippophae rhamnoides’ as one of the primary reasons for site selection. But even here Sea Buckthorn scrub has to be kept in check to maintain a more open habitat. Below is a brief description of the event with a more detailed publication expected in the next few months. 

Interim Report of the UK Sea Buckthorn Workshop 2009 85.83 Kb

Study tour of the Netherlands, 9-13 February 2009 (Network Event)

Seven professional conservation managers joined students and staff from Liverpool Hope University on a five-day excursion to the Dutch dunes in February 2009. The visit was hosted by Fred van der Vegte and Cees de Vries of the Dutch Foundation for Integrated Coastal Dune Management based at the University of Amsterdam. A full report of the visit has been published as the second in our series of Occasional Papers

Study tour of the East Frisian Islands, 29 June- 3 July 2009

Paul Rooney, Sally Edmondson and John Houston visited the East Frisian Islands of Langeoog and Spiekeroog in the company of Maike Isermann of the University of Bremen. The visit was supported by an EU Erasmus grant to develop links with colleagues in Germany. A report of the visit will be prepared for the web-site.

2008

The conservation and management of coastal vegetated shingle in England 18-19 September 2008 (Network Event)

A report of this meeting has been published as the first in a series of Occasional Papers. November 2009's newsletter also features some articles on vegetated shingle, access it here.

Wadden Sea tri-lateral dune conference, Wilhelmshaven, 28 August 2008

The conference was attended by Graham Weaver (Natural England) and Pat Doody (National Coastal Consultants) and is reported in our fourth newsletter. The full report by Graham Weaver is available at the link below

•  Wadden Sea Conference Report 34.00 Kb

Changing Perspectives in Coastal Dune Management, Liverpool 31st March to 3rd April

Liverpool Hope University hosted a landmark international conference in coastal dune research and management. Liverpool’s strong coastal associations mean it was ideally placed to host this important event, which attracted leading experts in the field of coastal dune management to discuss three main themes: people and dunes, change and dynamics, and naturalness.  There were also field trips to various sites along the Sefton coast, just north of Liverpool. Eighty five delegates from 4 continents attended the conference. 

Paul Rooney, was the conference leader, commenting: “The dune coasts are a changing environment and we must encourage further research and the sharing of knowledge. Coastal dunes are fascinating dynamic environments, rich in wildlife, and important for people. The conference aimed to identify and address the changing perspectives in coastal dune management. Just as dunes are changing environments so too are our understandings of them. Through this conference the dune network based at Liverpool Hope University promoted an ‘evidenced based’ and ‘research informed’ approach to the understanding and management of this highly valued coastal environment.”

The June 2010 edition of the Journal of Coastal Conservation features papers presented at the event by coastal dune experts from all over the world.

2007

Workshop: Working towards changing perspectives in coastal dune management, 29-31 May 2007, Snowdonia National Park (Network Event)

A report of the workshop is given in the second network newsletter. 

Report of the Coastal Dune Workshop - ‘Working Towards Changing Perspectives in Coastal Dune Management’ 29-31 May 2007

Coastal Forestry and Restoration of Dune Habitats, 7-8 September 2007, North East Scotland (Network Event)

A short report of the event can be found in the second network newsletter.

 Report of the workshop - Coastal Forestry and Restoration of Dune Habitats 79.61 Kb

On this page we will also publish short reports of network events, study tours and events attended by network members. Please submit your reports to us on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it