Kilmuckridge-Tinnaberna Sandhills

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Kilmuckridge-Tinnaberna Sandhills
Ireland adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location County Wexford, Ireland
Nearest city Kilmuckridge
Coordinates 52°29′34″N6°15′39″W / 52.4927°N 6.2607°W / 52.4927; -6.2607 Coordinates: 52°29′34″N6°15′39″W / 52.4927°N 6.2607°W / 52.4927; -6.2607 [1]
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.

Contents

Damage

Damaged area March 2011, some restoration progress evident. Tinnaberna-Damage.jpg
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]

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References

  1. National Parks and Wildlife Services Map Viewer Archived 20 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine Site Code Number 001741
  2. "Site Synopsis" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  3. NPWS enforcement file, Site code 1741, available at NPWS, Ely Place, Dublin 2 for photocopying
  4. McDonald, Frank (30 July 2010). "Intensive cattle farming causing severe damage to protected Wexford dunes]". The Irish Times . Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  5. Fintan Lambe, article Archived 1 August 2012 at archive.today , Gorey Guardian
  6. section 19.1 of the EC (NATURAL HABITATS) Regulations, 1997 (see S.I. No. 94/1997 EC (NATURAL HABITATS) Regulations)

Photographs of undamaged and damaged areas.