Defending against the effects of climate change at Elie and Earlsferry
Background
An exploratory survey of the dunes at Elie and Earlsferry was undertaken in November 2016. Following the survey, the environment consultant proposed a number of actions be taken to maintain the dunes as a natural method of flood protection. These included the creation of a dune management protocol, which was developed and distributed widely throughout the villages. The protocol provides guidance on the placement of beach huts, provides information on the problems around the planting of unsuitable species, gardening of the back dunes, the development of multiple access paths, bonfires, placement of boats on the dunes and the encroachment of construction work and trade vehicles.
Work on the dunes
With regard to the dunes themselves, he recommended the removal of the ivy which does not benefit the stability of the dunes and its replacement by dune Marram grass. There were two large areas of ivy on the dunes whose roots would be required to be removed using a digger. Once the ivy was removed, the local Elmwood Agricultural College students lent a hand to replant the Marram grass once the sites were cleared and placed fencing around the sites to protect the Marram grass, as it started to become established. A further recommendation was to lower the height of the dunes at the harbour to reduce the problem of windblown sand encroaching on the approach road to the harbour and the local houses.
