Lytham's ancient sea defences
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(not chosen)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
A rare and very important geologically and botanically diverse dune system on one of Lancashire's most well known, and busiest coastal resorts, The dunes system stretches over 80 Hectares from Starr Gate to Lytham St Annes.
Lytham St Anne’s sand dunes are located between Blackpool and St Anne’s on the Fylde Coast. They occur as a narrow strip between the ecreational and residential developments of these popular holiday resorts, and form the remnants of a once very extensive dune system, which existed along this stretch of coast.
At Starr Hills the dunes reach their maximum width and are important as the best example of a calcareous dune system remaining in Lancashire. In spite of past sand extraction (sand being removed for sale), seasonal pressures
from large numbers of holidaymakers and the relatively small size of the dune system, it still shows classic features of dune
formation and ecological succession including the widest range of foredune, yellow dune, dune
grassland, acid dune grassland, dune scrub and dune slack habitats found anywhere along the Fylde
Coast.
The foredunes and yellow dunes rise sharply from the foreshore and are composed of a highly calcareous sand supporting four types of plant community. Sand couch
dominates the lower levels of the foredunes, together with stands of lyme-grass.
The yellow dunes (HIGHER ONES)are dominated by marram grass which is very important as the main duneforming
plant, and other characteristic species include sea holly,maritimum, and sea spurge, a nationally scarce species.
What does calcareous mean?
The term calcareous can be applied to a sediment, sedimentary rock, or soil type which is formed from, or contains a high proportion of, calcium carbonate in the form of calcite or aragonite, Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CaCO3. It is a common substance found in rock in all parts of the world, and is the main component of shells of marine organisms, snails, pearls, and eggshells.
Now we know what the dunes are,but why are they important to us ?
The dunes are of countywide importance for their plant communities and other wildlife. Once removed, these plant communities can take a long time to re-establish, leaving the sand in an unstable state. Even small changes in the plant cover and shape of the dunes can lead to ‘knock on effects’ that are hard to predict. Some effects could be damaging on a wider scale, with increased wind-blown sand, dune erosion and local property damage, due to flooding with reduced sea defences owing to erosion of the dune system
The given coordinates for this Earthcache are at the Widest point of the dune system, at Starr hills, however it is not necessary to visit this exact spot, it is a good start,end or mid point for a walk along the length of the dunes
In order to claim this Earthcache please complete the following tasks:
1. Post photo's showing you or your gps on the sand dunes looking out towards the sea
2.Try to take a photo of obvious 'dune shifting' where there appears to be a larger concentration of sand, or highest area of dune...
3. Take a photo of some marram grass (Ammophila arenaria)- (very important to the dune system - as it is the main duneforming plant)
4. Please estimate the height of the biggest dune (from beach level) that you see on the system, and try to explain why the heights may vary.
As mentioned there is no EXACT spot to be at for this on the Lytham dunes, you need to report what YOU see where you are between the given sets of coordinates below, but you should try to find a good example of dune formation.
It's a nice walk of just over 2 miles from the pier at St Annes (53.44.969 / 003.02.108) to Squires Gate (53.46.526 / 003.03.308) will take you along the superb Lancashire Coastal way and you will be able to see and also explore at your leisure the vast majority of the dune system, you can get buses back should you not wish to retrace your steps.
Please answer questions by EMAIL and not in your logs. PLEASE NOTE: I receive a very high number of Earthcache emails, I can’t reply to them all otherwise I’d be doing nothing else all day, as has always been the case there is no need to await a reply from me regarding your answers…. However due to numerous people thinking they can just log these caches without emailing any answers, and/or completing the required tasks these will be picked up, and the logs will be deleted without further communication. To facilitate this Please email your information either before, or AT THE SAME TIME OF LOGGING THE CACHE, Thanks.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Vgf rireljurer!