Mayo public are urged to stick to beaches and stay off dunes

Members of the public have been advised to only walk on beaches and not on dunes or dune trails that are under threat from erosion.

Mayo County Council's Acting Head of Environment Tom McDonnell told a recent meeting of the Environment and Climate Change Strategic Policy Committee that the Protect Our Dunes campaign being run by the council includes fencing and signage at Bertra Beach in Westport, advising the public not to walk on dunes. Mr McDonnell said protective efforts are carried out hand in hand with National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Forum member Graham Cawdell pointed out that winter birds on Clew Bay that have travelled thousands of miles from the Arctic to feed here in warmer climes are also under threat, which he attributed to human activity, including the addition of a sauna at Old Head which he said is “very lively at weekends”, while dogs are also being exercised in dunes along the coast where various geese and ducks and waders like to feed.

SPC chairperson Cllr Harry Barrett wanted to know is there any issue with people walking along the established trails through the dunes, to which Mr McDonnell replied: “Any damage on them leads to more damage. The dunes are built on Marram grass and if this is loosened, the whole thing can go.” 

He said the dunes at the back of Bertra Beach are in good health but not at the front, adding: “It is not good to follow trails and our advice is to stay off the dunes, walk on the beach and we provide access to that.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.