I attended Leave No Trace training on beaches and dunes on Bull Island on 6th May.
Although three Biodiversity officials from Fingal were there, unfortunately nobody from Operations managed to attend this time. (The Area Committee agreed in 2024 to my proposal that the Council would investigate the possibility for communities in the Howth/Malahide Area and Council officials to participate in training for communities on beaches and dunes for climate adaptation, but it seems this wasn’t followed up.)

I found the training to be excellent and I have written to the Director of Services firstly to recommend that all dealing with beach management, both in operative and supervisory roles, benefit from similar training. 

I also point out that we face issues with the imminent start of the bathing season and associated mechanical raking, seeking a meeting on the beach as soon as possible to discuss these. These include the following:

On the same day as the training, I received a response at the Area Committee in follow-up to the meeting in February with two local residents about erosion issues. I note the reference to staying 2m away from the foot of the dunes. The photo below shows dune grass trying to grow on an area in front of the dunes which is in places up to 30m deep. We should be ensuring that raking is kept 2m away from any location where dune vegetation is trying to grow. The location of the ropes should support this.

The ropes have stretched and hang to the sand even where the dune hasn’t grown up around the posts. The sand has built up leaving many posts and some stretches of rope submerged. The posts and ropes need to be relocated accordingly.

Concrete bases for the lifeguard hut seem to have been installed on the same day as the training. This was done by cutting into the foot of the dune. Below are two photos, one from 7th May, and one from 13th. You can see that blown sand has already, by 13th, covered the most windward of the concrete pads. (You can also see the scouring in front of the most leeward of the pads.)

Overall this is an area where the dune system is building up sand. The idea of concrete foundations is entirely unsuitable to the location. I suggest the lifeguard hut should be well above the sand level on a foundation of poles into the beach. (The same principles apply to the foundations being used for bins.) The question of Appropriate Assessment under the Habitats Directive for the work done needs to be addressed.

New positive signage should be installed on the rope posts. Here’s an example shown at the training. 

At the eastern end of the beach, sand-trap fencing (chestnut palings) should be installed to catch sand and facilitate dune recovery and growth.

The Area Committee response said

“The seaweed is then deposited approximately 1 meter in front of the dunes at various locations along the beach. This seaweed (a) acts as a natural fertiliser for Maram Grass growth promotion, whose roots are essential for the stabilisation of sand dunes, and (b) to act as an anchor point to encourage sand deposition, the precursor of new dune formation.”

I am informed by people who walk on and pick litter on the beach every day that the seaweed is not spread along the front of the dunes as would be required for this to work but is mounded at one location far from where the public uses the beach.

I’m very concerned by this element of the Area Committee response:

“Beach raking removes debris, often perceived to be unsightly, making the beach more attractive for visitors, tourists and families. The improved aesthetic appeal positively impacts tourism and community well-being, contributing to a positive perception of the coastal area.” 

The Area Committee response seems not to recognise the presence of voluntary litter picking on the beach and to overestimate the degree of work required outside of the most busy periods. In addition, it is worth comparing the cost of improved beach management with the expense currently being incurred in Portrane to address coastal erosion.

I have asked for this site meeting to be organised as soon as possible, and definitely before any beach raking starts.