Victoria Road Sand Dune Restoration Project to Transform Formby’s Coastline by 2026

The National Trust Formby is embarking on a significant sand dune restoration project at Victoria Road, aimed at revitalising the fragile coastal ecosystem. This landmark initiative will take place from winter 2024 to approximately March 2026.

Key Information for Visitors:

• The Victoria Road beach and car park will be closed throughout the project.

• The Lifeboat Road car park will remain open, but parking spaces will be limited.

• A traffic management plan is being developed to ease congestion.

• Alternative beach destinations include Ainsdale, Southport, and Crosby.

Restoring Formby’s Natural Beauty

This ambitious project aims to remove unsightly construction rubble and the existing car park at Victoria Road, allowing the sand dunes to naturally shift and evolve. This restoration will create a thriving habitat for rare wildlife, including natterjack toads and sand lizards. The removed materials will be repurposed to build a new car park further inland, enhancing both conservation efforts and visitor access.

Bringing Nature Back to Formby

Reconnecting the sand dunes will encourage the growth of marram grass and support the formation of new dunes, which will be closely monitored. These mobile dunes provide critical habitats for rare wildlife and act as a natural sea defense, protecting coastal communities.

Kate Martin, Lead Ranger for Formby and Central Lancashire, explains: “Formby is part of one of the fastest-moving coastlines in the UK. Mobile sand dunes, when allowed to shift and change, create special habitats for rare wildlife and offer protection to nearby communities. The old construction rubble currently acts as a barrier, stopping the natural sand movement.”

Partnership and Expertise

This project is being carried out in collaboration with Dynamic Dunescapes, a conservation initiative focused on restoring sand dune ecosystems across the UK. Experts have worked diligently to ensure the project balances conservation efforts with visitor enjoyment.

To learn more about the Sefton Coast Dynamic Dunescapes, visit their website.

This restoration will transform Victoria Road into a safer, more enjoyable destination while creating a sustainable, wildlife-rich environment for future generations.

More details and answers can be found here.

National Trust Formby:

What's happening at Lifeboat Road?

In 2017, the National Trust began caring for an additional 204 hectares of land at Lifeboat Road. Ongoing conversations with visitors, members and the local community highlighted the need to explore ways to improve facilities in this area of the site. The most popular suggestions were toilets, access to food and drink, as well as a place for people to meet.

The proposals for Lifeboat Road were put on hold due to the pandemic. However, at the end of 2021 the team were able to start revisiting the plans for this area.

What are the next steps?

We’re committed to making on-going improvements to the facilities and infrastructure at Lifeboat Road. The team are working hard behind the scenes to find sustainable solutions that will enhance this area for people who love to visit.

Our priorities are to provide better toilet facilities, useful signage and more accessible paths, where we can. We also want to offer a selection of refreshments, whether that be an ice cream in summer or a warming cup of coffee in winter.

We'll continue to share updates as plans develop on this website page, through social media and out in the local community.