COULD HOYLAKE BE LIKE THIS?

Nationally recognised experts in coastal processes, geography and ecology consider dune succession to be a likely outcome at Hoylake.

In 2020 they called for surveys to be done so that future beach management will be based on up-to-date evidence.

Wirral Council have now commissioned those surveys.

WE AGREE WITH THE SCIENTISTS, AND THIS WEBSITE EXPLAINS WHY

HOW IT WORKS: A SIMPLE GUIDE

1

The Dee Estuary has been filling with silt and sand since the last ice age.

The Hoyle Lake, after which Hoylake is named, has now completely disappeared.

2

This means high winds blow even more sand from a large intertidal area, onto the upper beach, onto roads, blocking drains and surface water outlets.

3

High tides deposit ‘strandlines’ that include the roots and seeds of vegetation.

This is the first stage in the process of saltmarsh and dune formation.

4

As the beach gets higher, Common saltmarsh grass (not Spartina) is growing in a strip on the upper beach that is now beyond the reach of most high tides.

5

Wind blows sand onto the grass, which traps a lot of it and forms “hummocks”.

These join together to form a very effective barrier to further windblown sand.

6

As hummocks grow, dune grasses such as Lyme, Couch and Marram colonise, as can be seen by the new lifeboat station.

This can take just a few years.

SUMMARY

Nature is delivering lots of golden sand for us, for free; blowing it across from the Hoyle Bank when it is dry and windy.

We just need to capture it, and that is exactly what the grasses are already starting to do, for free.

The beach at Hoylake is a big area, surely there is space for people, sand and nature?

I HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION