Sand dune restoration at Victoria Road
Construction began in winter 2024 and will continue until approximately March 2026, during which period, the Victoria Road beach and car park will be closed. The Lifeboat Road car park will remain open but with limited spaces. To enjoy the beach, visitors are being asked in the interim to alternatively consider visiting Ainsdale, Southport, or Crosby beaches.
National Trust Formby secured planning permission in 2024 to revitalise the fragile sand dune ecosystem at Victoria Road. This landmark decision will see the removal of unsightly rubble and the creation of a thriving habitat for rare wildlife such as natterjack toads and sand lizards. Visitors can also look forward to a safer and more enjoyable experience at this cherished coastal location. The removed materials will be repurposed to build a new car park further inland.
Watch the ITV Granada news report to find out more : click here.
Bringing Nature Back to Formby
This restoration project will reconnect the sand dunes, allowing them to naturally shift and evolve. They will be closely monitoring the area and providing support as needed to encourage the growth of marram grass and the formation of new dunes.
The aerial view opposite outlines the restoration area and new car park location. We've worked closely with experts to develop a plan that balances conservation and visitor enjoyment.
National Trust have partnered with Natural England Dynamic Dunescapes for this project. To learn more visit:
Why Formby's Sefton Coastline is so Important
Dynamic Dunescapes: National Trust Formby Restoring Rare Wildlife Habitat
The Formby sand dune system is not only one of England's biggest - but also the fastest-changing stretches of coastline, and managed by the National Trust. This dynamic landscape, a nationally protected site and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), is crucial for biodiversity. These coastal dune habitats are a sanctuary for special plants and a wide range of wildlife, including natterjack toads (the Sefton Coast supports 40% of the UK population) and sand lizards, which rely on the shifting sands.
Why the Critical Need for Dune Restoration ?
For rare species to thrive, sand dunes must be free to moveand remain dynamic. This natural movement is what constantly creates the bare, mobile sand habitats essential for species like the natterjack toad and sand lizard. However, parts of the Formby dunes have become too stable and disconnected due with two main issues:
- Over-Stabilisation by Vegetation: Dense scrub and invasive plants like sea buckthorn and Japanese rose have taken over, preventing sand from shifting.
- Man-Made Barriers: Unnatural elements, including old construction rubble and tobacco waste dumped in the Victoria Road area (1950s–1970s), block natural sand movement and create a nutrient-rich layer that encourages rank vegetation.
Formby's Dynamic Dunescapes Conservation Project
The National Trust rangers at Formby are tackling these issues as part of the Dynamic Dunescapes UK-wide project. The core vision is to restore natural processes and create healthier, more mobile habitats for rare dune wildlife. The project uses tested conservation techniques including:
- Creating Notches: Digging gaps or 'notches' in stabilised dunes (like the former tobacco dump) to funnel wind-blown sand inland, allowing the dunes to move and shift again.
- Natterjack Toad Habitat Creation: Restoring and creating new wet slacks (dune pools) to provide vital natterjack toad breeding pools, directly supporting the recovery of this rare amphibian.
- Invasive Scrub Removal: Mechanically removing invasive scrub like sea buckthorn and Rosa rugosa to create open areas of bare sand where rare species can bask, hunt, and lay eggs.
- Corridor Creation: Establishing ecological corridors where the sand dunes meet the woodlands, ensuring different habitats can coexist and wildlife can move freely.
