North Bull Island - the development of new dune

The need to prevent silting up of Dublin Bay and hence allow continuing access to Dublin Port resulted in a breakwater being built on the south side of the harbour in 1730. A further wall was constructed on the north side in 1825 and a self dredging cannel formed. Around this time a sand dune and saltmarsh complex began to develop. The growth of this area (North Bull Island) has been chronicled since then (Jeffrey 1977). Today a complex sequence of rich sand dune and tidal habitats, saltmarsh and mudflats form a extensive 300ha nature reserve of considerable importance.

References

Jeffrey, D.W. 1977. North Bull Island, Dublin Bay - a Modern Natural History. The Royal Dublin Society, Dublin.