Clearance of invasive Sea Buckthorn from Pembrey Coast Sand Dunes at Pembrey Country Park

Although sea buckthorn is native to eastern England and south-east Scotland, this shrub was widely introduced at sand dune sites in South Wales, where subsequent invasion has become a considerable problem. Carmarthenshire’s two major sand dune systems include those at Pembrey County Park which are adjacent and contiguous with Pembrey Coast SSSI. Management of the buckthorn by contractors is urgently required to begin to halt the spread of this invasive species on these dunes. Pembrey now has by far the largest area of this invasive species in Wales, so it is not only a problem for Pembrey; it could also be a source of contamination for other sites.