Summerleaze Sand Recycling & Dune Care Plan (2026–2027) – January 2026 update

Cornwall Council and Bude & Stratton Town Council are working together on a short‑term programme to manage wind‑blown sand at Summerleaze Beach while strengthening the long‑term health of the dune system. This work forms part of the Future Coast Bude project and will run from March 2026 to March 2027. Community consultation about the future of the coast will be taking place during this time, and will help shape the long-term plan for the coastline here.

Why this work is happening

Summerleaze is a naturally dynamic coastline. Wind, waves and tides constantly move sand around the beach and dunes. Over recent years this has led to:

• Sand regularly building up in the car park
• Erosion and exposed rock armour along the seaward edge of the dunes
• Concerns about the long‑term resilience of the dune system

The aim of this plan is to reduce sand accumulation in the car park in the short term while keeping all sand within the natural beach–dune system, supporting the dunes’ ability to recover and adapt.

Where the work will take place

The project focuses on the mobile dunes and the car park, staying above the Mean High-Water Springs (MHWS) line to avoid disturbing protected intertidal habitats.

How sand recycling works

Excess sand that gathers in the car park will be moved back onto the dunes where it can help rebuild and stabilise them. The work will:

• Target only loose, non‑vegetated sand
• Prioritise rebuilding the west‑facing dune edge, where rock armour is currently exposed
• Maintain safe, stable slopes — especially around the RNLI access route
• Support wider dune‑care measures such as fencing, planting and mulching

The first phase is planned for early spring 2026, ideally after the March spring tides and before Easter, to maximise benefits ahead of the summer season.

Fencing and planting to stabilise the dunes

To help reduce wind‑blown sand and guide people safely through the dunes, a series of fencing and planting measures will be introduced.

Fencing

Two types of fencing will be installed:

• Post‑and‑rope fencing to mark a new access route and close off the old one
• Fencing to act as windbreaks and trap sand in key areas, including behind the rock armour and along the southwest dune edge

These measures help slow sand movement and encourage natural dune growth.

Planting

Once fencing is in place, dune‑friendly planting will help stabilise the sand:

• Marram grass in sheltered sand‑capture areas
• Lyme grass or couch grass in lower areas that may occasionally be reached by waves
• Thatching or mulching (e.g., straw) to help young plants establish

Some bare sand will be intentionally retained to preserve the natural ecological function of the dunes.

Maintaining RNLI access at all times

The RNLI relies on a key access corridor to launch the D‑Class inshore lifeboat. A realigned, more southerly route is proposed to improve safety and reduce wind‑blown sand around the boathouse.

If the new route cannot be created at the same time as the sand recycling work, the existing route must remain fully usable.

Protecting RNLI operations is a core requirement of the project.

What to expect

Even with this work, the dunes will continue to shift — that’s part of a healthy coastal system. Sand may still accumulate in the car park at times, and the dune face will continue to respond to waves and weather. These changes will be monitored closely by:

• The Bude Dunes Group
• The Future Coast Bude team
• The regional coastal monitoring programme

What informed this plan

The approach draws on specialist studies and community feedback, including:

• Summerleaze Beach & Dune Management Plan (2016)
• Bude Coastal Change Project (2021)
• Summerleaze Dune Report (2023)
• Summerleaze Car Park Community Feedback Survey (2025)

Further sand sampling will take place to confirm grain size and check for any contamination, though no issues are currently expected.