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Aberffraw - rabbit grazing and recreation
Aberffraw is a medium sized hindshore dune (approximately 357ha) in north Wales.
It is a designated SSSI.
Rabbits
and stock
grazing pressure (prior to 1953) caused erosion of the dune vegetation.
Subsequent to the reduction in rabbits following myxomatosis the increased stability
was offset by greater recreational use. Trampling and access by cars increased
path density considerably between the 1960 and 1970 and a programme of restoration
began in 1969.
Car access was restricted, cliffed dunes were 'trimmed' and the bare sand surfaces
planted with marram and covered with brushwood. Gaps in the dune ridges were
closed with brushwood fences.
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Guidance: This site provides an example of the traditional response
to eroding dunes (i.e. use of marram planting and brushwood fencing).
However, it is possible that the removal of cars and access control would
have been a more appropriate response in such an exposed location and
probably just as effective (Ranwell &
Boar 1986).
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References
Ranwell, D.S. & Boar, R.
1986.
Coast Dune Management Guide. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, NERC, 105 pp.
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