Work begins to clear invasive plants from coast

Work has begun to clear invasive plants to help protect "fragile and precious" species in sand dunes.

Diggers are removing two areas of buckthorn, a small spiny tree, from Warkworth Dunes which are part of and maintained by the Northumberland Coast National Landscape (NCNL).

The shrubs can grow anywhere, but plants like orchids and the bloody cranesbill, the county flower of Northumberland, can only grow in the dunes, the NCNL said.

Nature Recovery Officer Mark Middleton said the work might look destructive but it was "important" to protect the plants.

The NCNL said sand dunes provide vital habitat for plants, insects, reptiles and birds, but some are in poor condition with species, often accidently introduced by humans, pushing out those that only grow in dunes.

Without management, the invasive plants would spread and a "rare vital" habitat would be lost, the organisation said.

"The diggers will remove the invasive species creating bare sand where grasses and flowers that live in the dunes can regrow," Mr Middleton said, adding: "Although the presence of diggers may look destructive initially, this work is important for protecting [the dunes].

"The work will be completed quickly with minimal intrusion for people using the area and there will be signs indicating where the work is taking place."

The work is being carried out by local contractors as part of the Life Wader project, a £5.8m nature recovery scheme.

Led by Natural England, it aims to reverse the decline of habitats in the Tweed Catchment and on the Northumberland Coast.

Similar work is taking place in Northumberland as part of the same project at Bamburgh Dunes, Embleton Links and Buston.

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