Conservation Day at Braunton Burrows
January 21, 2025
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TURNSTYLE DESIGNS SUPPORT 'FINDING NATURE's FOOTPRINT' IN RESTORING DUNE HABITAT
Braunton Burrows is the largest sand dune system in the British Isles, covering approximately 1,000 hectares. Braunton Burrows is the core of the North Devon Coast National Landscape, and is a recognised site of special scientific interest. As part of the UNSECO Biosphere reserve, Braunton Burrows is renowned for its unique and biodiverse coastal habitat. The project group “Finding Nature’s Footprint” plays a key role in preserving the Burrows and organises monthly volunteer days to assist in managing the dunes.
CLEARING THE WAY FOR wildflowers and Rare species
Our Turnstyle team worked with a group of volunteers from Finding Nature’s Footprint. Helping to control vegetation and scrub plants (e.g. Hawthorn, Brambles), allowing wildflowers and other species to flourish!
In some areas, the dunes grassland have become overtaken by scrub, resulting in the disappearance of delicate species such as bee orchids if not properly managed.
The group cleared a large area of scrub which was encroaching on the precious dune grassland habitats by cutting and burning the wood to avoid excess nutrients returning to the soil.
Clearing the scrubs and removing invasive plant species like Japanese rose and sea buckthorn improves the habitat for dune specialist species to thrive. This includes the rare early marsh orchid, which can recover in these restored habitats.
"Joining ‘Finding Nature Footprint’ for a day of volunteering was a great experience. Carrie and I helped with gathering the chopped wood to build up the bonfire. When all the wood and shrubbery was cleared, it was very rewarding seeing the efforts we had made as a team.”
FINDING NATURE’S FOOTPRINT
Finding Nature’s Footprints is a three-year project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Finding Nature’s Footprint gives people and communities the opportunity to engage with the nature of the North Devon Coast National Landscape.
The project teaches people how to identify wildlife and conduct species surveys. Through exciting activities such as wildlife recording days and BioBlitz events. These activities bring together a range of groups to explore the outdoors and learn about various species in the environment and the habitats that they require to survive.
Finding Nature’s Footprint also helps communities to carry out their own wildlife surveys and monitoring by providing training tools and survey equipment. The data gathered is used to better understand what the area has to offer and how to help create more space for nature.
To get involved in Finding Nature’s Footprint’s upcoming volunteer days, visit their website.
