BUDE Valley Volunteers returned to Widemouth Bay recently, under the direction of Ranger Gareth Cann, to continue their work on stabilising the blown out dunes.

In January three rows of donated Christmas trees were buried in the sand where a dune had blown out along the South West Coastal path.

The volunteers said it was obvious that they had done their job — sand was accumulating around the trees forming an embryo dune.

Volunteers selected random clumps of Marram grass from an area where it is abundant.

These plants were then carried the 200 yards to the blown out dune and more volunteers planted them in irregular groups.

Between two of the rows of buried Christmas trees, a wedge of Marram grass was planted.

This salt and wind resistant grass survives in the harshest of conditions with only sand as a base.

It will bind together the sand grains, seek out nutrients and provide shelter and a stable environment for later pioneer species.

The afternoon rain will have aided the planting by watering them in.

The volunteers are hoping that the Marram planting will enhance the accumulation around the Christmas trees to encourage more sand deposit and the formation of a pioneer dune.

This should form a higher dune system plugging the hole in the dunes and reduce the traffic hazard of blown sand on the adjacent coast road.