County's dunes restored in £5.8 million project

A significant nature recovery initiative is set to revive the rapidly deteriorating dunes along Northumberland’s coastline, targeting the spread of invasive species that threaten this vital landscape.

The LIFE Water and Disturbance Environmental Restoration (WADER) project, a £5.8 million project led by Natural England and co-funded by the European Union, will begin work this month to restore dunes at Bamburgh, Embleton Links, Buston, Alnmouth and Warkworth, where invasive plants, such as ivy, blackthorn and sea buckthorn, are suffocating the dunes, jeopardising native species and disrupting natural dune movements.

Liz Humphreys, LIFE WADER project manager from Natural England, said: “Northumberland holds ten per cent of the UK’s dune systems, but sadly these are in poor health, largely due to invasive species.

“These interlopers mainly come from illegal dumping of garden waste and occasionally escape in from local gardens.”  

“Dune landscapes are dynamic systems, always changing, growing and shifting. This movement is vital for them to support rich biodiversity and protect the coastline.

“Invasive species create a monoculture and stop this natural rhythm, pushing out a wealth of rare, specialised and fascinating wildlife in the process. Species like toads, lizards, butterflies, tiny orchids and cranesbill need the shifting sand and the spacious sanctuaries of the dune slacks to survive.” 

The project aims to improve more than 49,000 hectares of coastal and river habitats while enhancing water quality in the River Tweed catchment and surrounding areas, representing a critical step in protecting Northumberland’s unique biodiversity and strengthening its defenses against coastal flooding and climate change impacts.

Large-scale mechanical removal of entrenched invasives will be necessary and marks a first in some areas, while LIFE WADER is also partnering with Newcastle University to leverage drone technology with specially created algorithms to detect and address invasive growth early.

Liz added: “Although using big machines in these fragile places may seem heavy-handed, it is essential to ensure the future survival of the dunes, and the work will be done with great sensitivity to wildlife, archaeology and access routes.  

“The team of contractors will use several different types of machinery to effectively remove the plants. 

“Sand dunes are robust habitats and once the ‘bully’ species are out, the native grasses and plants will have the opportunity to recolonise the bare sand quickly.” 

The initiative will collaborate with local landowners and conservation groups including the Northumberland Coast National Landscape, Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve and the National Trust, to ensure a coordinated, sustainable approach to long-term habitat restoration.

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