Recent rain hasn't undone damage of spring's droughts

THE effects of a drought-hit spring were obvious on a recent Green Sefton walk in the dunes at Ainsdale Local Nature reserve.

- with John Dempsey

While recent rains have gone some way to freshen up the area, evaporated slacks and pools and dessicated dune vegetation are very much the norm this year.

This dune system is a harsh environment of course, no matter what the weather conditions, and to live here species need to be resilient and adaptable.

Unusual periods of drought like the one we have experienced this year put extra pressure on the flora and fauna and make it harder for them to cope with disturbances.

Please consider this when walking dogs or exploring the protected coast line.

The impact of very low rainfall and long periods of wall-to-wall sunshine in the late winter and spring is most obvious on the incredible dune flora on the Sefton Coast.