NATURAL ENGLAND: BUCKTHORN CLEARANCE "WILL NOT IMPACT ON BIRDS"

NATURAL England has provided clarification on the initiative that will lead to large-scale sea  buckthorn clearance on the foreshore at Seacroft, south of Skegness, early in 2015.

A spokesperson for its Lincolnshire Coast, Marshes and Marine Team says: "Natural England is funding through a Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) a scheme that will provide some support to East Lindsey District Council towards the management of the scrub at Seacroft.  

"Sea buckthorn is an important source of food for the birds, but we are not so much planning to eradicate the species from the site as to moderate its encroachment.

"Seacroft is one of the units that forms part of Gibraltar Point Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is important  for the conservation of its habitat, fauna and its geomorphology.

"Regular  users will be aware  that the scrub on site is primarily from mature to over-mature strand and that sea buckthorn is a very encroaching plant which has been undermining the populations of other dune-loving species.

"In order to ensure a favourable balance with other plant species,  we have proposed the removal of 7.4ha of scrub populating the mobile dunes because sea buckthorn is a dune-fixing species and prevents the natural coastal geomorphology to occur.

"The level of scrub to be managed  will not impact on the birds as there will still be a vast amount of scrub to the south of the cleared area  for them to move to."

She continues; "East Lindsey District Council has been keen to undertaken the work and fulfil its  duty towards the SSSI management, promoting conservation and enhancement of the site for its future.

"This is habitat management on  a large scale which is very good news for nature conservation."