Clean-up operation opens up window into the past
THEY say the sins of the past have a habit of coming back up to the surface. Nowhere was this more true than the dunes at Ainsdale recently, where great work to remove invasive Rosa rugosa (Japanese Rose) over the winter meant a large area of sand was dug over.
Clearance work involved digging out the Rosa rugosa at a number of sites along the coastline - if left unchecked, this most invasive of plants would have a devastating effect on habitats here.
The alien plant spreads rapidly, blanketing areas very quickly and making the landscape unsuitable for the dune species that call this coastline home.
The work, using large diggers in the depths of winter effectively removed large amounts of the offending plant, but also revealed an area of “historic” rubbish buried in the dunes from a time when people did not understand the need to protect this incredible habitat.
Plastics, cans and other debris were drawn to the surface leaving a stark reminder of the dark days of the 1970s, when rubbish was dumped here indiscriminately before the site was given the Site of Special Scientific Interest protection that it enjoys today.
Fortunately today the coastline also enjoys the support of many volunteers who are happy to lend a hand with beach cleans and conservation management work from Crosby to Crossens.
It was no surprise that a clean-up at the dune site organised by Green Sefton recently prompted a great response, with lots of volunteers lending a hand.
Thanks for all your hard work. We filled 64 bags with the debris, which were taken off site by rangers.
Horrible as dumped rubbish is, the job provided something of a window into the past with some interesting finds ranging from lengths of rope and Norwegian fish boxes to a Coke can dating back to the 1970s. The can was a bit the worse for wear, but still preserved enough to reveal details of a competition to win a customised Triumph TR7 sports car, worth the princely sum (then) of £7,000.
The closing date was November 1978, so we may have missed the chance to enter! More alarming was the excellent condition of many pieces of plastic debris, highlighting just how long the stuff can linger before breaking down - product branding was still legible on many pieces, with no signs of decay despite being in the sand for almost 50 years. A terrible legacy for future generations if ignored.
The volunteers did a great job, but there is still a bit more debris to remove from site, so Green Sefton is organising another event to clear the rest of the site.
This will take place on Tuesday, May 16, starting at 11am, setting off promptly from Ainsdale Discovery Centre (PR8 2QB).
If you would like to take part, please contact our community ranger Jordan Scott by email at: jordan.scott@sefton.gov.uk You will need warm, waterproof clothing and stout footwear, and if possible a pair of tough gloves.
Green Sefton will provide litterpickers and bags as usual. The site is a 20-minute walk away from Ainsdale Discovery Centre, with some small dune slopes to negotiate.
John works for Green Sefton, the Sefton Council service that brings together the coast & countryside, parks & green spaces, flooding & coastal erosion, risk management and grounds maintenance teams for a joined-up approach to the vital management, development and oversight of Sefton’s beautiful coastline, parks and green spaces. This column looks at the flora, fauna and history of the coastline, and the work carried out to protect it.