Sand dunes being re-established at Richmond
A SAND dune is being re-established at the Richmond end of Vazon to help restore Guernsey’s natural coastal defences.
The Environment Guernsey project is being funded by the Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services as part of the ongoing management of natural and built coastal infrastructure.
‘We are trying to replicate those dunes already there to create a natural sea defence,’ said Marco Tersigni from ACLMS.
‘We are re-establishing the sand dune and will be managing it in the future.’
A section of the beach is fenced off to allow for marram grass to grow.
‘There has been delayed planting of the marram grass because it is still pretty cold,’ Mr Tersigni said.
‘If it does grow it will be really beneficial for that particular area of the coastline.’
It is hoped the restored dune will also be a habitat for local wildlife, and islanders were asked not to disturb the process.
‘It’s not a quick process and will take time in the next few months.
‘It depends if people start jumping on it – that’s not going to help its establishment. The more damage it gets, the longer it will take.’
There is an existing set of existing steps for public access.
Mr Tersigni said depending on how well the grass grew, similar projects may take place in other areas in the future.
‘This is a good tester to see how it works.’
