Kilmuckridge-Tinnaberna Sandhills

Kilmuckridge-Tinnaberna Sandhills
Location	County Wexford, Ireland
Nearest city	Kilmuckridge
Coordinates	52°29′34″N 6°15′39″W / 52.4927°N 6.2607°W / 52.4927; -6.2607Coordinates: 52°29′34″N 6°15′39″W / 52.4927°N 6.2607°W / 52.4927; -6.2607[1]
http://www.npws.ie/protectedsites/specialareasofconservationsac/kilmuckridge-tinnabernasandhillssac/

The Kilmuckridge-Tinnaberna Sandhills are a system of clay cliffs, sand dunes, wet woodland, and gently undulating fixed dunes, known as sand hills, in County Wexford, Ireland. The area was surveyed and described^[2] during the 1990s and was designated a Special Area of Conservation. The site was considered to be the best example of grey dunes for lichen diversity in the country.

Damage

Damaged area March 2011, some restoration progress evident.

As at 2011 the National Parks and Wildlife Service is attempting to reverse degradation of a large portion of the site (11 ha) that has been damaged by overgrazing and bulldozing.^[3] Human-induced damage was first reported to the authorities in 2002.^[4] Damage continued for a further eight years before the area was made subject to a Ministerial Direction to restore it to its prior condition,^[5] issued under relevant Irish legislation.^[6]

References

1. ↑ National Parks and Wildlife Services Map Viewer Site Code Number 001741
2. ↑ Site Synopsis
3. ↑ NPWS enforcement file, Site code 1741, available at NPWS, Ely Place, Dublin 2 for photocopying
4. ↑ (2010) Intensive cattle farming causing severe damage to protected Wexford dunes, The Irish Times
5. ↑ Fintan Lambe, article, Gorey Guardian
6. ↑ section 19.1 of the EC (NATURAL HABITATS) Regulations, 1997 (see S.I. No. 94/1997 EC (NATURAL HABITATS) Regulations)

External links

Photographs of undamaged and damaged areas.