How can marram grass help to preserve Cornwall's shifting sand dunes?

The National Trust has warned that the sand dune system at Crantock in Cornwall has undergone a "dramatic" and "noticeable" changes in recent years.

Although changes to sand dunes are part of a natural process, the "speed and severity" at which they are occurring has been linked to climate change.

In a bid to protect the dunes, The National Trust is joining forces with the Making Space For Sand project (MS4S) and inviting the local community to help plant marram grass in the area.

Why are the sand dunes important?

Crantock is a sand-dune backed beach between the twin headlands of Pentire Point East and Pentire Point West.

Sand dunes are formed by the wind and play a vital role in our eco-system.

Jo Smith from MS4S said: "They create barrier against storm surges, and they can absorb the power of the storm. And with sea level rises, if we help them to build up and thrive, they can provide a barrier again the water coming over, protecting our coastal communities."

According to the National Trust, these areas of naturally shifting sand create special habitats for rare sand dune wildlife.

What has climate change got to do with it?

Research has found that climate change poses a significant threat to coastal dunes, to the rise in sea level and increased frequency in storms.

The National Trust is working with others, including researchers from Plymouth University and the MS4S team, to understand how the beach and dunes will change in the long term and plan accordingly.

Locals have been warned that the dune system is now unstable in places and that they should stay clear from the base of the sand cliffs.

How will marram grass help?

The marram grass helps to trap the sand, giving the dunes a better chance of holding their shape.

According to the Wildlife Trusts, its fibrous, matted roots bind the sand down, which helps to encourage the colonisation of other plants.

National Trust Ranger, Hannah Pickard, explained: "Planting more marram grass aims to improve biodiversity and also binds with the sand to reduce erosion of the dunes."