Ballyteige Burrow

Ballyteigue Burrow holds the dual designation: a SAC (Site Code: IE0000696)  and a SPA (Site Code: IE0004020. The focus is on coastal change and unique wetland/dune habitats—a vital site for Annex I Priority Habitats (Coastal Lagoons, dunes and saltmarsh) and for wintering waterbirds (for example: Light-bellied Brent Goose, Black-tailed Godwit, Shelduck, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, and Lapwing). Its unique habitats support several rare and protected plant and invertebrate species like the rare Wild Asparagus, Scrambled-egg Lichen or the Shrill Carder Bee and the Turf Ant)

Ballyteige Burrow stands as a wild, breath-taking, and utterly fragile frontier where land meets sea. This precious landscape, a designated Special Area of Conservation, is currently caught between the powerful forces of nature and the increasing pressures of human activity. It is facing an existential threat from the rapidly intensifying effects of climate change. In the past decade, the blowouts—natural hollows in the dunes—have become alarmingly enlarged as storms and sea surges intensify. This erosion is rapidly claiming ground and reshaping the landscape. At the back of the dunes lay reclaimed lands.  The increasing likelihood of major flooding could destroy entire ecosystems and habitats, posing a devastating threat not just to nature, but to neighbouring homes and businesses as well.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a surge of visitors seeking solace and escape in nature—a wonderful development, yet one that introduces a profound threat to the delicate dune ecosystem. Every footstep off the designated paths has a direct, detrimental impact. Visitors often unintentionally trample the vital dune vegetation, such as Marram Grass. This humble grass is the lifeblood of the dunes, acting as a natural anchor that holds the sand in place and allows the dunes to recover and regenerate. When it is repeatedly damaged and unable to bounce back, the Marram Grass simply dies. This loss weakens the entire structure, leaving the sand vulnerable to the next storm surge.

Finally, an all-too-visible threat is the pervasive issue of litter. Dropped or washed-up plastic and general debris pose a direct and immediate danger to the wildlife of the Burrow. Animals can easily become tangled, injured, or poisoned by plastic debris, turning this beautiful natural refuge into a lethal trap.

Find out more at the National Parks and Wildlife Services website at the following links:

https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/protected-sites/conservation_objectives/CO004020.pdf

https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/protected-sites/synopsis/SY004020.pdf 

Because of its dual status, landowners and users within the designated area must obtain written consent from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) before undertaking certain activities that could damage the habitats. Failure to obtain this consent may result in legal action.

Find out more at the National Parks and Wildlife Services website at the following links:

https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/protected-sites/conservation_objectives/CO004020.pdf

https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/protected-sites/synopsis/SY004020.pdf

So how involved is the community to safeguard this environment?

Due to the sensitive nature and ecological complexity of Ballyteige Burrow, and the need for continuous habitat protection, local conservation groups and community volunteers are vital in helping to raise awareness, educate the public, and carry out active conservation efforts

In the 1990s, the Kilmore Quay Community Development Association, in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), organised conservation grazing. This initiative was essential for managing the sensitive dune and grassland habitats by using livestock to control aggressive vegetation growth and actively enhance the condition and biodiversity of the sand dune system.

The Kilmore Quay Conservation Group serves as a coordinating force for conservation across the village and its environs. Demonstrating a long-term vision, our group presented a substantive and comprehensive plan to the CDA, NPWS, and Wexford County Council (WCC) focused specifically on protecting the vulnerable Ballyteige dunes. Proposed solutions, such as chestnut-fencing, are nature-based approaches designed to rejuvenate the dunes. Discussions are currently underway with the CDA, NPWS, and WCC to finalize the proposal’s logistics and implementation.

Ballyteige Burrow Bioblitz

Our group’s flagship project is a BioBlitz for Ballyteige Burrow. This initiative uses a Citizen Science approach, logging every type of flora and fauna encountered by residents and visitors. The resulting detailed inventory represents a huge undertaking toward understanding local biodiversity. This data is critical for monitoring species, assessing habitats, tracking invasive species, and defining necessary buffer corridors.

Click on the following link to find out more at inaturalist.org:
iNaturalist Ballyteigue Burrow BioBlitz Link

Our group is also leading a major, multi-site signage plan to educate residents and visitors across the region about the vulnerability of the dunes and the ecosystems.

References

Ballyteige Burrow  Special Protection Area (Site Code 4020)
Link: https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/Ballyteige%20Burrow%20SPA%20(004020)%20Conservation%20objectives%20supporting%20document%20-%20[Version%201].pdf

NPWS/ SITE SYNOPSIS SITE / BALLYTEIGE BURROW SPA SITE CODE
Link: https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/protected-sites/synopsis/SY004020.pdf

S.I. No. 435/2021 – European Union Habitats (Ballyteige Burrow Special Area of Conservation 000696) Regulations 2021

Link: https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2021/si/435/made/en/print

SWC (Jim Hurley)

Link: https://www.southwexfordcoast.com/swcprom/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/401-Introduction.pdf