The impact of sand extraction at Formby Point ... - Sefton Council

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2 Assessment of ecological impacts of sand extraction at Formby Point and opportunities for habitat maintenance, restoration or creation linked to targets within the North Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan Philip H. Smith, March 2008 1. Introduction Formby Point is part of the Sefton Coast sand-dune system, the largest area of coastal dunes in England. Reflecting its importance for wildlife, Formby Point is included in the Sefton Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest designated in 2000. The area also benefits from EU protection, being part of a Special Area of Conservation and Natura 2000 site. The dune system has been listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention and is also a Site of Local Biological Interest under the Sefton Unitary Development Plan. The Sefton Coast sand-dunes have been subject to extensive modification by a wide range of human activities (Smith 1999), one of these being large-scale removal of sand for industrial purposes. From at least the 1920s or 1930s onwards, sand-winning took place from several sites at Formby Point, despite the fact that the coastline had been subject to rapid marine erosion since about 1906. In the early years, the industry appears to have been unregulated but there are records of planning applications for sand extraction between 1949 and 1959, while a public inquiry took place in the 1960s. In 1958, a Coast Protection Order was enacted by Formby Urban District Council and no further applications were considered to the west of an arbitrary line, though sand removal continued to take place until 1970. This report was commissioned in September 2007, its aim being to investigate the ecological impacts of sand extraction at Formby Point. The Project Brief requested the following: • Review relevant information held by the contractor and other sources, if appropriate. • Assess the positive and negative impacts of the industry.
• Rapid, up-to-date assessment of the condition of the habitats and species associated with former sand extraction sites, noting any positive and negative trends. 3 • Advise on management of existing sites, with reference to the management plans for Lifeboat Road, Ravenmeols Local Nature Reserve and Cabin Hill National Nature Reserve. • Assess potential for future habitat maintenance, restoration and creation at several scales – from small-scale and local (e.g. single slack) to large-scale (e.g. restoration plan for whole extraction site). • Comment on potential for positive habitat management, restoration or creation for BAP habitats and species, including Natterjack Toad, Sand Lizard, Common Lizard, Great Crested Newt, Northern Dune Tiger Beetle, Colletes Vernal Mining Bee, Grayling, Dark Green Fritillary and others. 2. Ecological survey 2.2. Methods Locations of major sand quarries at Lifeboat Road, Ravenmeols and Cabin Hill, as defined by recent Lidar survey and aerial photographs taken in 1945, 1961 and 1979, were visited in early October 2007. Notes were made on habitats and vegetation, with particular reference to habitats scheduled in the EU Habitats Directive and regionally/nationally notable species, including those considered in the North Merseyside BAP. Changes over time were determined by reference to aerial photographs, National Vegetation Classification (NVC) reports and maps, other reports, personal note-books and transparencies. Site Management Plans were examined in the context of habitat and species management and potential for future habitat restoration/creation. 2.3. Results 2.3.1. Lifeboat Road All of this area is owned by Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council. As determined from the 1945 photographs, the main quarry site is bounded by pine woodland in the east, Lifeboat Road to the south, Wicks Lane path in the north and former Asparagus fields to the west. It is also inferred that sand removal took place from frontal dunes to the north
Page 1: 1 The impact of sand extraction at
Page 5 and 6: 5 jackii) with a smaller component
Page 7 and 8: grazed, fixed-dune grassland charac
Page 9 and 10: 9 The vegetation of the main quarry
Page 11 and 12: 11 on the Sefton Coast occur here b
Page 13 and 14: leaved Wintergreen (Pyrola rotundif
Page 15 and 16: 15 Slack 2 was progressively invade
Page 17 and 18: are often accompanied by nationally
Page 19 and 20: 19 by blown sand is mentioned; thes
Page 21 and 22: Creeping Willow nearby seems to be
Page 23 and 24: 6.3.1. Smaller-scale 23 • Cut bac
Page 25 and 26: Smith, P.H. (1978c). Cabin Hill - a

The impact of sand extraction at Formby Point ... - Sefton Council

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