- Braunton Burrows
Braunton Burrows is a sand dune system on the
North Devon coast. Braunton Burrows is a prime Britishsand dune site, the largest sand dune system (psammosere ) inEngland . It is particularly important ecologically because it includes the completesuccession al range of dune plant communities, with over 400vascular plant species. The short turf communities are very rich inlichen s and herbs, and the dune slacks are also rich. The many rare plants and animals include 14 with UKBiodiversity Action Plan s. For example, this is one of only two sites in the UK for the Amber Sandbowl Snail "Catinella arenaria ", which is found on the wet dune slacks.Use
The site is currently leased by the Ministry of Defence from the
Christie Devon Estates Trust . The area is closed for 10 days per year for army training. It is also used, particularly by local people, for a range of leisure activities, particularly dog-walking, from three large car parks adjacent to the site. There is a long tradition of scientific research, particularly botanical. Tourism is an important use of the area in summer. The more isolated parts of the Burrows are noted for naturism.Fact|date=October 2007Designations
*
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
*National Nature Reserve (part)
*SSSI
*Ramsar site
*Special Area of Conservation
*North Devon AONB
*North Devon Heritage Coast Part of the site was de-declared as an NNR in
1996 because of a disagreement over grazing management practices between the landownerChristie Devon Estates Trust andEnglish Nature . This de-declaration was a unique occurrence.crub invasion
Scrub invasion is managed to maintain a state of
semi-equilibrium and prevent succession to aclimax community . The methods of scrub management used have become a point of contention between the various parties involved with the site.During the 1970s invasion of coarse grasses were managed largely by
rabbit grazing. The spread ofmyxomatosis resulted inrabbit population decline and consequent encroachment ofspecies rich turf by scrub species such asprivet "Ligustrum vulgare" and heather "Calluna vulgaris ". Decline inspecies diversity was exacerbated through the introduction ofsea buckthorn "Hippophae rhamnoides" by the military. This attempt atdune stabilisation was implemented after preparations for theNormandy landings caused widespreaderosion . Deep rooted species such asbramble , hawthorn andwillow were also able to flourish and resulted in severalsallow carr communities These species were maintained and species rich turf later established through a combination of management techniques.The burning of deep rooted species often made the soil more fertile but led to the spread of coarse grasses. These grasses were later managed by
mowing in combination with grazing bysoay sheep and cattle.Grazing was viewed by the Christies Estates Trust as exacerbating
erosion and hence damaging tospecies diversity . The trust therefore opposed the introduction of sheep and cattle to the site. HoweverEnglish Nature felt that this turnover was erosive but nevertheless was less invasive than mowing. English Nature felt the turnover of soil increasedspecies diversity and with the use ofsoay sheep , maintained a desirable balance toecosystems . It was this disagreement that was the main factor which led to the de-designation of the site as aNational Nature Reserve in1996 .External links
* [http://www.ukmab.org/BRReport/Braunton.htm UK Biosphere Reserves Review 1998]
* [http://www.northdevon-aonb.org.uk/ North Devon AONB website]
* [http://handbooks.btcv.org.uk/handbooks/content/section/3959 BCTV handbook on vegetation changes]
* [http://www.ttef.org.uk/ The Taw and Torridge Estuary forum]
* [http://www2.unesco.org/mab/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?mode=all&code=UKM+02 UNESCO MAB biosphere reserves directory]
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