Penhale Dunes - general monitoring programme

Attempts to control recreational use and introduce grazing stock to manage and enhance the conservation significance of this large (1,070ha) dune system have been accompanied by a comprehensive monitoring programme (Crummay et al. 2001). Techniques included:

• National Vegetation Classification survey (Rodwell 2000) - to be repeated every 5 years;
• Fixed-point photography - to record changes in physical features;
• Selected species monitoring - according to taxonomic groups with well-established methodologies, indicator species which are particularly sensitive to changes in environmental conditions, nationally scarce and local species and easily identified species.

Comment: So far this approach has only been used to set the baseline for future work.

References

Crummay, S., Neil, C. & Spalding, A. 2001. Monitoring the changing ecology of sand dunes at Gear Sands SSSI and Candidate SAC in conjunction with management of access, recreation and wildlife. In: Coastal Dune Management: Shared Experience of European Conservation Practice, eds.Houston, J.A., Edmondson, S.E. & Rooney, P.J.Liverpool University Press, 429-438.

Rodwell, J.S. 2000. British Plant Communities. Volume 5 Maritime Communities and Vegetation of Open Habitats. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 512 pp.