Help wipe out coast’s ‘public enemy No 1’
VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help tackle the Sefton coastline’s “public enemy number one”.
Sea buckthorn is spreading along the shoreline, killing natural habitat for rare local species such as the natterjack toads and sand lizards.
Sefton Council is now appealing for people to help to remove as much as they can.
Green Sefton ranger John Dempsey said: “Sea buckthorn was first introduced on the Sefton coast at the start of the 20th century.
“Although native on the east coast of Britain, it is an alien species here, and was planted to stop sand blowing across grazing areas, crops and tracks.
“Since then, much of our coastline has been celebrated and protected to form some of the most important nature reserves in the country, but the sea buckthorn keeps on spreading.
“What was once a tool in the armoury of farmers, is now ‘public enemy number one’ on a coastline protected as a sand dune system.
“Sea buckthorn took to the sands of the Sefton coast all too well and quickly engulfed large areas of dunes, shading out valuable habitat for rare plants, natterjack toads and sand lizards.”
John revealed the damaging impact the invasive plant has on the Sefton eco-system.
He said: “As a nitrogen fixing plant it enriches the sand, making it unsuitable for many other specialised species on the coast.
“If you pull it up, you can even see the little nodules on the roots that pump nitrogen into the sand around the plant.
“Enriched sand turns to dark soil, which in turn encourages the type of lush vegetation not normally found on healthy dune systems.
“Great if you’re a gardener, awful if you’re a sand lizard.”
Green Sefton, working with volunteers, pulls up, cuts back and treats areas of sea buckthorn over the winter months, keeping areas of sand open so that the valuable landscape of the coast can be maintained.
John said: “If you would like to help out with this work, we will be staging three public buckthorn bashing events next month, which will hopefully be the first of many.
“We need volunteers to help cut and drag sea buckthorn out of an area of dunes just beside Ainsdale Discovery Centre, which lies at the end of The Promenade.
“You will need to wear old clothing, stout footwear and bring sturdy gardening gloves.”
Green Sefton can provide some tools, but if you have a pair of garden loppers, take them along.
The events will take place on Sunday, November 17, 10am-3pm; Saturday, November 30, 10.30am-3pm and on Saturday, December 7, 10.30am-3pm.
To register to help, contact GreenSefton@sefton. gov.uk, or call 0151 934 2961.
It is hoped the events will form the start of a wider programme of conservation work with volunteers from all over the borough.