Resources

The network will aim to make available some of the key reference material on sand dune and shingle conservation and management. This information will include:

• Classic studies from key sites
• Books and conference proceedings on sand dunes and shingle
• Links to material published only on web-sites
• Relevant articles from journals

Some Key References

The Coastal BIG resources page provides a comprehensive list of coastal resources covering habitats and management. Below are selected key references for dunes and shingle which can be considered a starting point to finding out about habitat extent and management throughout Europe.

The 1991 inventory was prepared by J Patrick Doody under the umbrella of the European Union for Dune Conservation [EUDC] and supported by the JNCC. The original inventory was presented to the European Coastal Conservation Conference, held in the Netherlands in November 1991. It attempted to provide a description of the sand dune vegetation, sites and conservation issues throughout Europe including Scandinavia, the Atlantic coast and in the Mediterranean.

It is the main point of reference for the more detailed reports on individual countries prepared as part of a revised 'Sand Dune Inventory of Europe' presented at the International Sand Dune conference “Changing Perspectives in Coastal Dune Management”, held from the 31st March - 3rd April 2008, in Liverpool organised by the Network. It is an excellent reference for facts and figures about European sand dune distribution and provides a comprehensive review of the state of each country's sand dune resource. It is accessible online including the updated country reports published in 2008.

Photo: Copyright J Pat Doody
Click for larger

This is the most recent complete survey of dune sites in Britain, published in 1993 by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) in three volumes covering England Scotland and Wales. The value of the study is that it offers a baseline against which to monitor future change. It contains

• A review of the existing knowledge of British dune vegetation plus a bibliography
• An inventory of the range and extent of dune vegetation throughout Britain
• Vegetation maps and descriptions for each site in sufficient detail to support site-specific casework and conservation management planning, and to act as a baseline for future monitoring

Part 1 –England Information on the structure, land use and land management of each of the sites was also collected. The close association between dune vegetation and physical processes is a recurring theme as is the changing patterns of land use.  Recreation is identified as the single most important and widespread use of dunes.

Part 2-Scotland This covered about 30% of the area of vegetated dunes but only 5% of dune sites in Scotland. Information on the geomorphology, land use and management of each site was also collected. The results highlight the enormous diversity of coastal dune vegetation in Scotland and several possible new sub-community types are identified.  The survey found that extensive grazing methods were widespread and probably determine the large extent of fixed dune grassland found in the sample sites. 

Part 3 –Wales coordinated by Tom Dargie surveyed the vegetation communities at 49 sites in Wales in 1991. Mapping covered 6,046 ha, a dune area excluding large extents of afforested sand. Including afforested areas the total is 8,101 ha, almost all the vegetated dune resource in Wales.  Field survey also included geomorphological characteristics of sites and the impact of human activities.

This volume presents keynote presentations, the results of scientific studies and case studies from the field.  As with all events supported by the European Union for Coastal Conservation (EUCC) it bridges the gap between science and management. In doing so it captures the spirit of the dune and shingle network, to share experience and enthusiasm for our coastal habitats.

The Southport symposium was one in a series of significant European conferences which began with the launch event of the European Union for Dune Conservation in 1987 in Leiden, the Netherlands.

To purchase a copy of this publication please go to the Liverpool University Press web site.

Murdock, A., Hill, A.N., Cox, J. & Randall, R.E. 2010.Development of an evidence base of the extent and quality of shingle habitats in England to improve targeting and delivery of the coastal vegetated shingle HAP. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 054.

Natural England has recently published the inventory of coastal vegetated shingle habitats as a follow up from the earlier report Development of a Coastal Vegetated Shingle Inventory for England. It updates the known extent of shingle habitat using selected habitat mapping and secondary data interpretation to create a new spatial dataset. It can be accessed here

The report outlines the physical and ecological attributes of coastal vegetated shingle and explores the habitat using case studies. The importance of shingle to flood management at the coast is examined but also how coastal defence can be a threat to coastal vegetated shingle. Guidance is given on managing the different threats to coastal vegetated shingle as well as restoration opportunities. Available here

The proceedings of this international conference illustrate the ways in which pattern and process in ecology and geomorphology are related. It is intended to encourage a more integrated approach in future studies of a dynamic habitat in which change is always present, particularly in a period when the sea level is rising.