Guidance: The experience from this site provide guidance on the use of the following control measures:

Mechanical removal - Initial attempts using hand tools whilst relatively successful were costly and could only be applied to small patches of scrub. Mechanisation using bulldozers, excavators or tractors fitted with special rakes and grabs, enabled large areas to be cleared and was generally more successful. This success was partly due to the fact that roots were removed at the same time as the above ground parts of the plant reducing reinvasion from root material (Rooney 1998). This is not always considered to be the very best practice in areas of high nature conservation interest and is though expensive. However in high infestation areas and especially where Hippophae is dominant, it may be the only effective means of restoration.

Mowing - Mostly used to control and reduce the height and density of Salix repens in dune slacks where it has rapidly overwhelmed species rich dune turf. Cut material is removed and a moss Calliergon cuspidatum has been raked out where it contributes to the repression of rarer vegetation types. Elsewhere various types of machines have been used. Forage-harvesters are effective on both grassland and heath land and both flail and rotary movers are also successful. Rotary chains are more successful than blades. Smaller tractors with low ground-pressure tyres cause less damage especially to slacks. Period of mowing is most effective in the spring though care has to be taken to avoid wet slacks where amphibians are spawning and due to the possible damage to the slack. This approach is not a panacea but is useful when other management (notably grazing) is not possible.

Turf stripping and excavation - This has been used to regenerate dune slacks especially where these have become overgrown with Salix repens. Shallow excavations involving the removal of surface vegetation were successful in providing breeding pools for Bufo calamita. They also became colonised at their margins with diverse dune slack vegetation. Although this activity can be successful in the short term successional development continues and in the absence of further management the slacks become overgrown again. Retaining early stages of dune slack development (suitable for breeding Bufo calamita here or the rare Liparis loeselii at Kenfig Dunes requires continuing commitment except where the natural dynamic allows new slacks to develop. [In order to meet the specific needs of the natterjack toad 'key pools' have been identified and are intensively managed, including re-profiling to provide suitable shallow water for breeding even in dry years.]

Grazing - Once scrub has been removed it can be help in check by grazing. Herdwick sheep have been successfully used at Ainsdale.