Baie d'Audierne, south west Brittany

A new dune has appeared as a result of the destruction of a protective shingle barrier by shingle extraction. An influx of sand provided the material for new dunes to from to landward. These developed over a period of only 10 years or so. Between 1966 and 1978 the sand was colonised by vegetation. The dunes showed (and continue to show) periods of erosion and accretion and in 1991 were still growing (Guilcher et al. 1992).

The authors also conclude that the dune complex will probable remain unstable and that "It would be inadvisable to try and stop shoreline retreat by building of armour revetments, as has been attempted on Talbert Spit in northern Brittany. The cure could be worse than the evil."

Comment: A site, which should be investigated further.

References

Guilcher, A., Hallegouet, B., Meur, C., Talec, P. & Yoni, C. 1992. Exceptional formation of present-day dunes in the Bai d'Audierne, southwestern Brittany, France. In: Coastal Dunes. Geomorphology, Ecology and Management: Proceedings of the Third European Dune Congres, eds.Carter, R.W.G., Curtis, T.G.F. & Sheehy-Skeffington, M.J.A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 15-23.