Dynamic Dunescapes is a fantastic new project to restore sand dunes across England and Wales for the benefit of people, communities and wildlife.  Picnics in a sheltered hollow, hide and seek… sand dunes are a familiar and natural playground. Less well known is their role as a sanctuary for endangered plants and animals like the fen orchid and sand lizard. But our sand dunes are under threat. They are becoming more and more densely covered by grass and scrub while our wildlife needs areas of open sand to thrive. Healthy sand dunes need to move and be dynamic.  The Dynamic Dunescapes project is big and ambitious – targeting some of the most important sand dune systems across England and Wales. We will work with schools and local groups, volunteers and visitors of all ages and abilities to create more bare sand which will breathe life into the dunes and allow the threatened wildlife to flourish. The project will launch in 2020 and there will be plenty of opportunities to be involved so you can help bring our sand dunes back. Click here to read more

Sandscaping, Bacton  Norfolk

The beaches in front of Bacton Gas Terminal and the villages of Bacton and Walcott will be transformed during summer 2019 as a result of the Sandscaping scheme. A UK-first multi-partner project, the scheme will see approximately 1.8 million cubic metres of sand placed and engineered on these beaches. The height and width of the beaches will be significantly increased and access to beaches improved. Sandscaping involves using a large ship (production vessel) to pump sand to the beach. The sand is then positioned using bulldozers with GPS. Whilst the contractor has made every effort to minimise and will be monitoring noise from plant working on the beach, you may notice some noise as this work continues around the clock. Sandscaping work will progress quickly, starting at Bacton Gas Terminal and working towards Walcott. As the beaches towards Bacton village and Walcott are nourished, sections will be closed for public use and then reopened as soon as possible. Click here to see more

See a video of the work in practice  – John Curtin (EA) I’m on the North Norfolk Coast looking at the new sandscaping flood protection work – what’s happening and where the sand’s coming from all in my 25s video!   pic.twitter.com/3Uuc0oGKsJ

A recent article highlighting the challenges of beach change. ‘Putting off the inevitable’