 From September to November 2023, Sands of LIFE will be rejuvenating a number of dune slacks in Newborough Warren and Forest.
Dune slacks are seasonally wet, low-lying flat areas which often have high biodiversity and specialist species, such as marsh orchids, petalwort and great crested newts. However, over time some slacks have fallen into poor condition, having become overgrown with coarse grasses, scrub and invasive alien species like cotoneaster and sea buckthorn.
On the Newborough Warren, we will be restoring 2 hectares of slack habitat in two locations, by scraping away the layer of turf, and lowering the surface slightly to restore marshy conditions, as well as creating a new pool.
Within Newborough Forest, Sands of LIFE have previously restored several glades including at Ffrydiau and Gull Slack. This year we will be focusing on Pant y Fuches and Pant Canada, where we will be removing the dense vegetation and recreating bare sand habitats and new pools.
Work involves large excavators and dumper trucks and can look quite drastic. But the site soon naturalises, leaving perfect conditions for specialist plant and invertebrate species to colonise.
Last year, Sands of LIFE removed 2 ha of dead wood on the seaward side of the Commonwealth Trail at Penrhos dunes (between the forest and the dunes). We are planning to continue this work by removing a further 3.4ha of dead tree trunks and fallen branches from the landward side of the trail. This is one of the richest areas of dune grassland, with a wide range of plants including Lady’s bedstraw, Bird’s-foot trefoil, Bee orchids and Pyramidal orchids. The work will ensure this priority habitat, which is rare and threatened across Europe, is protected.
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